



Hiring #MeToo men as ‘distressed assets’ may help Paramount’s finances but it’s a myopic game to play
Hollywood is known for its short memory, but David Ellison has been testing the aphorism’s limits. Ellison, who merged his Skydance studio with Paramount seven months ago and is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, has a payroll that includes several names lodged in the collective memory of observers for the wrong reasons.First, there’s Jeff Shell, president of Paramount Skydance, who was fired as CEO of NBC Universal in 2023 following an allegation of sexual harassment. Then there’s John Lasseter, Paramount’s head of animation, who left Walt Disney in 2018 after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Paramount brought on Max Landis, who faced accusations of sexual misconduct in 2019, to write a treatment of G.I. Joe—one the company has passed on. Filmmaker Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct by several women (allegations he has denied), is making Rush Hour 4 with Paramount as its distributor.
(Amazon also hired Ratner, tapping him to direct Melania, a documentary.) As The Wrap aptly pointed out, Ellison is essentially telling “Hollywood’s canceled #MeToo men: We’re hiring.”The industry publication amplified a theory about why Paramount Skydance has hired controversial figures: The company isn’t trying to make a big point about redemption, the #MeToo movement or cancel culture. Instead, it’s just trying to get talent on the cheap. One top dealmaker it didn’t identify said, “Studios like Paramount Pictures are ultimately in the asset business.
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