David Ellison – Not Larry – Set to Hold 100% Of Family Interest In Paramount When Skydance Deal Closes

An amended FCC filing by Skydance has revealed that David Ellison will hold 100% of the Ellison family’s voting interest in Paramount Global once the deal closes. The clarification comes amid possible concerns over control residing with his father, Oracle co-founder and CEO, Larry Ellison.

Michael Kovac / Getty Images / Paramount

A previous version of the filing, which regards the transfer of broadcast licenses for nine television stations, showed Lawrence J. Ellison at the top of a chart detailing Paramount’s post-transaction ownership structure. Skydance, with partner RedBird Capital, cemented a merger agreement with Shari Redstone in August and the deal is expected to close in the first half of next year. Larry Ellison is the main backer of Skydance and investor in the Paramount acquisition and the family will control the majority — 77% — of the merged company.

The revised FCC filing today clarifies the manner in which the Ellison family will exercise control over what is called the New Paramount and the voting interests of NAI, or National Amusements, the Redstone family holding.

Specifically, post closing, David Ellison’s role will be New Paramount’s chair and chief executive, and sole manager of the Ellison family entities (Hikouki, LLC, Furaito, LLC, and Aozora, LLC), through which the Ellison Family will own and control NAI and New Paramount.

As sole manager of these entities, “David Ellison will hold 100 percent of the Ellison Family’s voting interests in NAI and New Paramount, in addition to serving as New Paramount’s Chairman and CEO,” the filing read.

Redstone began shopping Paramount last year and entertained a number of potential suitors in a drawn out process that came to a head in late summer with Skydance emerging victorious. Father and son are close and Oracle is expected to be an active partner in shaping David Ellison’s stated vision of an entertainment company that’s a media-technology hybrid.

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Shop Official Paramount Merch: https://www.paramountshop.com

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Originally published: November 01, 2024.

Original source: Deadline.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon International and Paramount Plus News and Highlights!

‘Max & the Midknights’ Showrunners David Skelly and Sharon Flynn Take Us Along the Creative Quest of Nickelodeon’s New Hero

Fans of Lincoln Peirce’s popular book series Max & the Midknights will be glued to their TV screens this month as a charming animated adaptation premieres on Nickelodeon. The distinctly animated series chronicles the adventures of a determined 10-year-old girl who pursues her dream of becoming a knight by leading her friends on an epic adventure in the fantastical medieval kingdom of Byjovia. Series showrunners David Skelly and Sharon Flynn recently discussed their colorful project with Animation Magazine via email.

Max & the Midknights [Nickelodeon]

The origins of the project go back four years ago, when Skelly was art directing Peirce’s previous series, Big Nate. The show’s executive in charge, Nathan Schram, asked Skelly to read Peirce’s second series of books, and he fell in love with the property. “We gathered a small crew, and on nights and weekends, I directed a one-minute animated proof-of-concept teaser (which later evolved into our title sequence),” recalls Skelly. “Shortly thereafter, the incredibly talented, Emmy Award-winning Sharon Flynn (co-executive producer/co-showrunner) came on board to figure out how to adapt the first of Lincoln’s books into 20 half-hour episodes!”

Flynn says she also fell in love with the stories and heroine Max. “I was so excited about telling her story, and I knew right away that to do Max’s story justice and build a satisfying arc — it needed to be a serialized show,” she says. “So, I pitched the broad strokes of what I was thinking to Nickelodeon, and then I was brought on, joining the amazing, Emmy-nominated David Skelly!”

A Cinematic Quest

As Flynn worked on the story bible for the show, Skelly was defining the special look of the project. “I felt a wide, feature film screen format (2.39:1) would seem quite cinematic and complement our action-adventure story nicely,” he explains. “But with a feature format comes a promise to the audience that the filmmaking will also be like a feature: dynamic, rich and compelling. I wanted the camera to be lively, to have a feeling of improvisation, as though the camera operator were reacting to the situation unfolding in front of them. Figuring out how to achieve that on a television budget and schedule was the next challenge.”

Skelly says there didn’t seem to be clear way to achieve his goals using conventional methodologies. So, he opted to create a brand-new production pipeline. “Our primary objective was to honor Lincoln’s wonderful illustrations, to adapt them as faithfully as we were able,” he says. “We set out to make a beautiful show — one that would stand out in a veritable ocean of captivating content — and that’s exactly what our incredibly talented crew has done! A small group of writers, artists and technical wizards at Nickelodeon teamed up with Xentrix Studios, a powerhouse animation studio in Bangalore, India, which also collaborated with us on Big Nate. They’re terrific partners, and they were willing to take a chance on a new production pipeline with us, so off we went!”

Xentrix Studios also worked with Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on Shimmer and Shine, Butterbean’s Café, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, Rugrats (2021), and Monster High.

David Skelly

Skelly’s concept for the new pipeline was to emulate a live-action production: The team would design and build everything first — every character, set and prop — and then “film” the show in real time using Unreal Engine. “We would hire visualization artists who would, in effect, be our camera operators and gaffers — and they, with the directors, would go ‘on set’ and shoot the episode live by moving stand-in CG characters, define the blocking (like we would with live actors), establish preliminary lighting and then shoot coverage (multiple angles) of every beat of every scene,” says Skelly.

Both showrunners love the fact that the show tackles some fantastic storylines and delivers the goods in such a visually interesting package. “From a story standpoint, Max & the Midknights is incredibly complex,” says Flynn. “Not only are we tracking Max’s arc — her journey toward becoming a knight — but every character has an arc. So, we’re juggling every story thread throughout all of our first 20 episodes. Shout out to our incredible writers: We like to say we’re making a 440-minute movie!”

She adds, “I also think (and hope!) that audiences will enjoy how we’ve blended humor, heart and action, as well as real stakes. David and I knew very early on that since this story was set in a medieval world (with fire-breathing dragons and razor-sharp swords), the kids needed to be in real peril for audiences to be invested and for the story to be exciting and satisfying.”

Sharon Flynn

“And it’s so incredibly cinematic,” Skelly chimes in. “The wide-screen format, the fluid camerawork and the lighting are positively stunning! We treat lighting as an essential storytelling tool, as opposed to simply illuminating the set: It supports and amplifies the emotional content of every scene. The textures make you want to touch your monitor while you’re watching the show! And the animation is so wonderfully charming! It’s done on twos to emulate stop motion. We use a ‘tilt-shift lens’ technique to make everything look miniature — like they’re tiny stop-motion puppets filmed on a real stage. As a result, every scene is imbued with an indescribable feeling of warmth and nostalgia — but at the same time it all looks so fresh, innovative and exciting!”

When asked about their animation influences, Flynn and Skelly offer a wide range of classic favorites. “From a performance standpoint, we wanted to evoke a feeling of the classic Rankin/Bass holiday TV specials from the 1960s and ’70s, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” says Skelly. “And the extraordinary handmade craftsmanship of The Nightmare Before Christmas was a huge source of inspiration. For the filmmaking, we looked closely at Peter Jackson’s trilogy The Lord of the Rings — I asked all of our directors to use the same lens set as the [director of photography] Andrew Lesnie. And for costumes, color and charm: Michael Curtiz’s 1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood!”

There Be Dragons: Based on Lincoln Peirce’s popular book series, ‘Max & the Midknights’ pushes the visual envelope by using Unreal technologies in a wide-screen format.

Making Medieval Magic

The duo hopes audiences will be inspired and captivated by their show’s memorable characters and stories. “Early on, we did some focus testing, and one kid said that Max was brave, and she made them feel brave too,” recalls Flynn. “That always stuck with me. In addition to being fun and exciting, I hope Max & the Midknights makes kids (and anyone who watches) feel brave!”

Skelly concludes, “Look, this show truly has it all: It’s funny, exciting and unabashedly heartfelt. There are laugh-out-loud moments and moments where the story will bring people to happy tears. Our goal is to give audiences a surprisingly satisfying, emotionally cathartic experience as they go on this epic journey with Max and her friends. And thematically, we hope our audiences will be left with a feeling of empowerment. Sharon has deftly woven that theme into every episode of the series. I think our title sequence song, written by our composers, the immensely talented Leticia Wolf and Matt Mahaffey, really sums up that theme in the lyrics: ‘I wanna make my own destiny!’”

Max & the Midknights premieres on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The rollout begins with the first episode, which is now on YouTube.

This article was written for the November '24 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 344).

CBS Presents 'The Making of Gladiator II' A Primetime Special on November 18

CBS PRESENTS THE MAKING OF GLADIATOR II, A PRIMETIME SPECIAL FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE PARAMOUNT PICTURES FILM, MONDAY, NOV. 18 ON CBS

CBS presents THE MAKING OF GLADIATOR II, a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Paramount Pictures' GLADIATOR II. The special will give both nostalgic fans and newcomers to the franchise an epic, never-before-seen look at THE MAKING OF GLADIATOR II, Monday, Nov. 18 (10:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs)*. Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com.

This inside look offers unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from the grand scope of the set - including reconstructing Ancient Rome - to characters, combat training, costumes, historical accuracy, scoring and more. The footage captured on the set of GLADIATOR II reflects unparalleled, exclusive access to principal cast and crew, Ridley Scott's true inner circle and insights into his incredible filmmaking. This highly anticipated sequel to the iconic Oscar^® Best Picture-winning 2000 film Gladiator boasts equally ambitious spectacle and scale, stunning locations, plus a stellar cast led by Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen reprising her role from the original film and Academy Award^®-winner Denzel Washington, capturing the enormity of the project and a rare look into Scott's distinctive filmmaking style.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, GLADIATOR II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

The film is based on characters created by David Franzoni, with a story by Peter Craig and Daniel Scarpa and a screenplay by Daniel Scarpa.

GLADIATOR II opens nationwide in theaters on Nov. 22.

Stream Gladiator this November on Pluto.tv.

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

***

Shop Official Paramount Merch: https://www.paramountshop.com

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Original sources: TheFutonCritic.com, Vital Thrills.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon and Paramount Plus News and Highlights!

November 2024 on Pluto TV | Programming Highlights

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its November 2024 highlights!

The Pluto TV November 2024 lineup serves up a delicious selection of TV shows, movies, and new channels, including the return of their Season’s Greetings category and a cornucopia of fresh options.

For those inspired to trace their roots, check out PBS Genealogy to explore the fascinating and emotional histories of the famous and not-so-famous. And if the dinner conversation turns competitive (as it often does), settle it with the new Family Feud channel, hosted by Steve Harvey.

As a special holiday gift to you, Pluto TV is bringing back Pluto TV 007! Dive into 20 official James Bond films, including Daniel Craig in No Time to Die, now streaming for free. Whether you’re a longtime James Bond fan or just discovering the legend, enjoy the 007 experience on Pluto TV.

Pluto TV is the leading free, ad-supported streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies. Stream now, pay never at pluto.tv.

Shop your Paramount favorites at ParamountShop.com

HOME SWEET STREAMING

There is plenty to be thankful for this November on Pluto TV, no matter if your family feels like the Brady Bunch or more like something out of The Twilight Zone. And, at the low price of free, they’re making you an offer you can’t refuse (as the Corleones would say). Spend some time on the ranch with the Duttons in Yellowstone or laugh along with the unconventional Bundys in Married with Children. Can I get a "WOAHHH BUNDY"?!

If your family gatherings are a bit chaotic, you’ll feel right at home with The Conners and King of Queens. Feeling nostalgic? Sister, Sister and Sabrina the Teenage Witch bring back those ‘90s vibes. So grab the remote (and maybe a slice of pie) and watch Pluto TV bring families of all shapes, sizes, and kinds together for a Thanksgiving full of laughs, drama, and plenty of entertainment.

24/7 CHANNELS

Classic TV: Families: The Brady Bunch, Married with Children, Mama’s Family, All in the Family

Sitcom Legends: The King of Queens, The Conners, The Neighborhood, Man with a Plan

TV Land Sitcoms: Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Kim’s Convenience

Black Classics: Sister, Sister; Moesha; The Parkers; Webster; One on One

Kids Category Channels: Nickelodeon Pluto TV, 90s Kids, Pokémon, Strawberry Shortcake and Friends

MOVIES & MARATHONS

The Godfather Trilogy: On Pluto TV Crime Movies & On Demand

Yellowstone Seasons 1-4: Nov. 7-10 on More TV Drama

The Twilight Zone Marathon: Nov. 27-Dec. 1 on Classic TV Drama

Home for the Holidays

FAST FEAST

Pluto TV has everything you need for a stress-free Thanksgiving holiday, starting with dinner preparations and all the way through the food-coma movie marathon at the end of the night.

“Kick Off” Thanksgiving Break with UEFA Champions League Matches on Golazo Network:

11/26 at 3:00 PM ET: Inter vs. RB Leipzig

11/27 at 3:00 PM ET: Monaco vs. Benfica

THANKSGIVING PREP

Sometimes, watching someone else prepare a Thanksgiving feast is more fun than actually doing it yourself. All month, tune in to Pluto TV Food and America’s Test Kitchen for Thanksgiving-themed food episodes and check out the rest of their Food + Home category for more culinary creations all year round.

THANKSGIVING DAY: NOVEMBER 28TH

Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade: For the second year in a row, Pluto TV will be broadcasting the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade LIVE starting at 9 a.m. ET on Pluto TV Christmas.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles: A Pluto TV tradition! They will be streaming THE Thanksgiving movie three times in a row for the third consecutive year, starting at 8 p.m. ET on Pluto TV Comedy.

Hanks-Giving: Today, we are thankful for the iconic Tom Hanks. Tune in to Pluto TV Icons for a Tom Hanks marathon featuring movies including A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and more.

Thanks-Giggling: Turkey got you feeling a little loopy? Keep the giggles going with Thanksgiving-themed episodes of comedy favorites on channels like Cheers + Frasier, Pluto TV Pranks, Sitcom Legends, TV Land Sitcoms, More TV Sitcoms, and Black Throwbacks.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND MARATHONS: THURSDAY-SUNDAY

More TV Drama: NCIS

This Old House: Cozy Homes Marathon

Stories by AMC: Breaking Bad

Pluto TV Crime Drama: Numbers, Without a Trace, FBI

More Crime Drama: Rizzoli & Isles, The Closer, Elementary

PLUTO TV NOVEMBER 2024 CHANNELS

Here are some of the new channels and movies launching throughout November on Pluto TV.

Pluto TV 007

The action, cars, and shaken (not stirred) martinis of the world’s greatest super spy are now on Pluto TV 007. Watch Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pluto TV 007 en español

La acción, los autos, los martinis y el traje impecable del espía más famoso del mundo están ahora en Pluto TV 007 en español. Mira a Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, y Daniel Craig las 24 horas del día, 7 días a la semana.

Family Feud

Hosted by Steve Harvey, two families battle it out by answering survey questions for a chance to win cash and prizes.

PBS Genealogy

PBS Genealogy explores the surprising and emotional histories of the famous and not-so-famous. Featuring Finding Your Roots, We’ll Meet Again, and other series, all available 24/7, PBS Genealogy will inspire you to explore your own story!

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Pluto TV’s Season’s Greetings category returns on November 1st, bringing holiday warmth right to your screen. The festive lineup includes two cozy fireplace channels—Crackling Fireplace and Festive Fireplace—for the perfect ambiance, plus a joyful mix of movies, music, favorite cooking shows, and holiday classics like Pluto TV Christmas, Cine Navideño, and Home for the Holidays.

NEW MOVIES

Diamonds Are Forever

Die Another Day

Dr. No

For Your Eyes Only

GoldenEye

Licence To Kill

Live And Let Die

The Living Daylights

The Man With The Golden Gun

Moonraker

Octopussy

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Quantum Of Solace

The Spy Who Loved Me

Thunderball

Tomorrow Never Dies

A View To A Kill

The World Is Not Enough

You Only Live Twice

No Time To Die

Gladiator

1941

30 Days Of Night (2007)

30 Days Of Night: Dark Days

3000 Miles To Graceland

A Few Good Men

A Girl Like Grace

A Mighty Wind

Across The Universe

All Styles

All The Pretty Horses

American Outlaws

Apocalypto

Awakenings

Basic

Big Fish

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Boogie Nights

Bottle Rocket

Chef

Cloud Atlas

Coraline

Creation

Double Team

Driven

Empire Of The Sun

The End Of The Affair

The Exorcist

Faceless After Dark

The Fan

Fear Of A Black Hat

Filly Brown

The Fisher King

Fools Rush In (1997)

Free State Of Jones

Geronimo: An American Legend

Go (1999)

Godzilla (1998)

Godzilla (2000)

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah

Godzilla, Mothra, And King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack

Godzilla: Final WarsGrace: The Possession

The Grey

Grumpier Old Men

Grumpy Old Men

The Guns Of Navarone

Heat

Heist (2001)

Hellboy (2004)

Hesher

Hoop Dreams

Hotel Artemis

Hurt Locker, The

Hyena Road

Insidious

Insidious: Chapter 2

Jane Got A Gun

Johnny Mnemonic

Julie & Julia

Knives Out

A League Of Their Own

Little Women (1994)

Looper

Luv

Man Of The Year

Miles Ahead

Moon

Not Easily Broken

Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Only Lovers Left Alive

Paradise Hills

Passengers (2008)

Philadelphia

Playing For Keeps (2012)

Predestination

The Professional (1994)

Punchline (1988)

Rachel Getting Married

The Raid: Redemption

The Raid 2

Redbelt

Rough Night

Runaway Jury

Season Of The Witch

Secret Window

Seems Like Old Times

Showdown At The Grand

Sleepless In Seattle

Social Network, The

Starship Troopers

Steel Magnolias (1989)

Taxi Driver

The Bye Bye Man

The Getaway

The Harder They Come

The Last Letter

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Tailor Of Panama

The Tourist

This Beautiful Fantastic

This Is Spinal Tap

Thunderheart

Tigerland

Two For The Money

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral

Ultraviolet (2006)

Universal Soldier: The Return

Vantage Point

Waiting For Guffman

Way We Were, The

When We Were Kings

Who’s Harry Crumb?

Wild Target

Wild Things

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Original source: Vital Thrills.

Pluto TV November 2024 Schedule Announced

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Thanksgiving on Nickelodeon and Paramount Plus News and Highlights!