Jim Gianopulos Exit At Paramount Reflects Fast-Shifting Times, Fast-Rising Fortunes Of Brian Robbins

It was only a matter of time before Ariana Grande blocked John Legend during “The Voice”‘s season 21 Blind Auditions — but it didn’t quite go according to plan!

Ariana Grande blocked John Legend during 'sseason 21 Blind Auditions — but it didn't quite go according to plan!During Monday's Blinds, Ariana said that John «pushed a button, literally and figuratively» when he blocked her to land showtune-loving crooner Joshua Vacanti last week.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterEmma Watts is out as Paramount’s motion picture group president.Watts exits just over a year in the job, on the heels of her former Fox boss Jim Gianopulos — whose jaw-dropping ouster as Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO shook up Hollywood in early September.

President of the Motion Picture Group at Paramount Pictures Emma Watts is exiting her position following the ouster of CEO and Chairman Jim Gianopulos, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. Earlier this month, head of Nickelodeon at ViacomCBS Brian Robbins was announced to replace Gianopulos.

In what has been heavily expected in the wake of Jim Gianopulos’ departure from Paramount as CEO and Chairman, the studio’s Motion Picture President Emma Watts is leaving the Melrose lot. Deadline has confirmed the news.

ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish was out beating the Wall Street drum for new Paramount boss Brian Robbins, who, he told investors, will lead “the film studio of the future.”

Ashton Sanders will be playing a young Bobby Brown in the upcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

EXCLUSIVE: Ashton Sanders has joined the cast of the biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the upcoming feature about the late musical icon, Whitney Houston. Sanders will play Bobby Brown and sources also tell Deadline that Black Label Media is coming on board to co-finance the film with Compelling Pictures and Primary Wave Music.

EXCLUSIVE: Maggie Levin is currently writing an adaptation of Elsie Chapman’s young adult novel Caster for Paramount. We understand that this deal closed before the announced departure of Paramount Chairman & CEO Jim Gianopulos and the project is in very early development.

media reports. Reps for Paramount and ViacomCBS did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaChris Petrikin has stepped down from his role as executive vice president of global communications and corporate branding at Paramount Pictures. His exit comes on the heels of the announcement this week that ViacomCBS is replacing studio chief Jim Gianopulos with Nickelodeon head Brian Robbins.

EXCLUSIVE: We are hearing that Chris Petrikin, EVP of Global Communications and Corporate Branding, is leaving Paramount. The news comes in the wake of Jim Gianopulos’ planned departure from the Melrose Lot as Chairman and CEO, and Brian Robbins adding oversee of the motion picture studio to his growing portfolio. A Paramount spokesperson could not be reached.

Claudia Eller Co-Editor-in-ChiefThe changing of the legacy guard in Hollywood continues in a business focused on prioritizing content for streaming customers.Last week, we learned that seasoned studio chief Jim Gianopulos, who for decades has been shepherding big, successful theatrical movies, was being pushed out after four years as chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures in favor of a digital-leaning leader known for purveying lower-cost content aimed at younger consumers.While the abrupt move

ViacomCBS CFO Naveen Chopra — asked Tuesday about Paramount’s management shakeup — said outgoing studio CEO Jim Gianopolus “leaves some very big shoes to fill. There is no doubt he has helped revitalize the studio both creatively and financially. But I think Brian [Robbins] is really the perfect person to take the reins from here.”

The transition plan for Paramount Pictures is officially set, with ViacomCBS confirming Jim Gianopulos will exit and Brian Robbins will add leadership of the studio to his growing portfolio.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBrian Robbins has officially been named president and CEO of Paramount Pictures, replacing Jim Gianopulos as head of the studio behind the “Mission: Impossible” and “Transformers” franchises.He will take the reins while continuing in his current post as head of Nickelodeon and as the chief content officer of kids and family for Paramount Plus, the streaming service launched this year by Paramount’s parent company ViacomCBS.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s some sweet first footage for under-the-radar animated film Bug Therapy, which is voiced by Dr. Phil McGraw, Meghan Trainor, Jay Leno, Sterling K. Brown, Tom Green, Emily Goglia, and Jason Reisig.

As Nickelodeon CEO Brian Bobbins prepares to take over Paramount Pictures from Jim Gianopulos, the film studio’s television division Paramount TV Studios will move under the purview of Showtime CEO David Nevins, Deadline has confirmed.