David Ellison’s Hollywood career has been defined by high-octane blockbusters filled with suspense, stunts and impossible plot twists.
But on Sunday he hit his biggest cliffhanger yet, striking a deal to join Paramount after months of negotiations with the company and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone. If the deal closes, he will be at the helm of a media empire that includes CBS, MTV and the Paramount film studio.
Although Mr. Ellison, 41, joined the cast of Hollywood power players more than a decade ago, he has not taken center stage until now. Here’s a look at his career.
Who is David Ellison and what is his company, Skydance?
A quick read of Mr. Ellison at the Internet Movie Database lists a relatively unremarkable acting career, with small roles in films such as the war drama “Flyboys” and the teen comedy “The Chumscrubber” (in which he played “Student No. 1”). . It wasn’t until he became a producer that his star in Hollywood began to rise.
After dropping out of the University of Southern California and giving up acting, Mr. Ellison turned to producing. His family’s considerable influence – he is the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison – helped him finance big-budget films such as Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Star Trek Into Darkness.
Along the way, Skydance Media’s valuation of Mr. Ellison’s company grew to more than $4 billion as private equity firms such as RedBird Capital Partners and KKR invested in it. Mr. Ellison, Skydance’s chief executive, co-produced hits such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and “GI Joe: Retaliation” with Paramount, giving him an introduction to the company’s executives and its most valuable franchises.
Long before he produced “Top Gun: Maverick,” Mr. Ellison was a daredevil himself. In 2022, he told the New York Times that he started flying airplanes as a teenager and competed in acrobatic air shows into his 20s.
How is Mr. Ellison’s family involved in Hollywood?
Larry Ellison — who had a role in “Iron Man 2” — is personally backing Skydance’s bid for Paramount, throwing his wealth and technology expertise behind the deal.
David Ellison’s sister, Megan Ellison, is also a Hollywood actress: In 2011, she founded Annapurna, which produced Her and American Hustle. Mr. Ellison’s wife, Sandra Lynn, is also in showbiz: She’s the singer-songwriter behind hits like “I Think of You” and “Somebody Kissed Me at a Bar.” Neither Megan Ellison nor Sandra Lynn are on Skydance’s executive team.
What are David Ellison’s plans for Paramount?
Although Mr. Ellison has not publicly laid out his plans for Paramount, he discussed them with a special committee of the company’s board months ago. He has discussed working with another major entertainment company on a broadcast joint venture in the United States, bucking the broader trend toward bundling, according to two people familiar with his bid on the Paramount board.
Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone is enthusiastic about other aspects of the Skydance deal, two people familiar with her thinking said. She believes Mr. Ellison’s management team will add technology and animation expertise to the combined company.
Mr. Ellison also pitched Paramount on a plan to augment the company’s streaming capabilities with improved recommendations and more efficient deals with data providers, a person familiar with his presentation said. Skydance has ownership stakes in Paramount’s most financially successful shows and movies, including “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” so bringing the two firms together could give the combined company greater flexibility in managing the franchises. hers.
A key executive in discussions with Skydance is Jeff Shell, the former chief executive of NBCUniversal. Mr. Shell, who joined Skydance backer RedBird Capital last year, is in line for a major operating role at Paramount, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Does Skydance have ties to other Hollywood companies?
Although Skydance has a deep relationship with Paramount, it has also produced films for other Hollywood studios. Skydance has a multi-year deal to produce animated films for Netflix, and has collaborated with Amazon on films including “The Tomorrow War” and “Without Remorse.”
Skydance has also recently ventured into the sports media business. Skydance Sports, a division launched in 2021, reached a deal in 2022 to partner with the National Football League to create a production company that would expand the reach of sports programming. And last year it produced “Air,” a film about the creation of Nike’s Air Jordan brand.
Lauren Hirsch contributed to the reporting.