The slate deal locks in the Patrick R. Leardo-run investment group as a key partner for the studio as it looks to transition to Skydance Media ownership this year.
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| The iconic Melrose Gate of Paramount Pictures | Mark Davis/Getty Images |
As it prepares for an ownership transition, Paramount Pictures has inked a 30-title co-financing slate deal with an investment group, Atlanta-based Domain Capital, that looks to back features across a wide range of genres and budget levels.
Upcoming titles that were named as part of the deal include Jack Quaid action thriller
Novocaine, the Rihanna-led animated
The Smurfs Movie - a live-action/CG-animated film adaptation of the classic comic book IP created by Belgian writer Peyo that is slated for a July 18 release - as well as the Liam Neeson remake
The Naked Gun and Glen Powell’s Edgar Wright-directed
The Running Man. Domain has also previously partnered with Paramount on Ridley Scott’s
Gladiator II as well as holiday hit
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Based on the
Sonic video game franchise, this film has already generated US$472 million in worldwide ticket sales against a US$122-million budget.
“We are privileged to be partnering with Paramount Pictures and participating in this slate of films,” said Pete Chiappetta, Domain’s Managing Director of Media, Entertainment & Technology. “The team at Paramount is dedicated to producing quality content that we hope will continue to build on the value of Domain’s film library for our investors. We are grateful to the team at Paramount that worked alongside us to kickstart this strategic collaboration.”
Paramount Pictures chief operating officer Courtney Armstrong stated, “We are thrilled to be in business and partnering with Domain to bring audiences everywhere world-class entertainment. We look forward to building a long and successful relationship.”
Terms weren’t disclosed in regards to how much Domain will cover on each theatrical release.
The multiyear deal is a long-term commitment as the studio conglomerate looks to a new era of ownership. Domain, run by CEO Patrick R. Leardo, said the co-financing slate deal could be extended to 40 features if certain unnamed benchmarks were met. The investment firm had entered into a multiyear co-financing deal in 2023 with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group that included backing the studio’s highest grossing movie of all-time, Barbie, at $1.44 billion. Other Domain co-funded pics included Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Wonka and The Color Purple. Domain finances some 10% per each title on the Warner Bros. slate.
Managing Director Pete Chiappetta led the deal for Domain Capital. Paul Neinstein, via Project X Entertainment, acted as an advisor for Domain Capital Group on the deal with Cataldo Law and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton acting as legal counsel for Domain Capital Group.
In July, Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone inked a deal with David Ellison and Skydance Media to merge in a deal that brings together the producer of
Top Gun: Maverick with the owner of Paramount’s film studio as well as CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount+ and other assets. The agreement is
set to close in the first half of 2025 if it clears regulatory hurdles.
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