Paramount Global SVP of Streaming Strategy Sean Gupta Is Exiting

There’s something magical that happens to most people around the age of 13. For many, that’s when you might have your first real romantic love.

Maria Kyriacou, Paramount Global‘s President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, is exiting the U.S. studio after four years, as it prepares to slim down its international originals offering.

Rudie Obias editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Although the seventh installment in the “Mission Impossible” film franchise was a moderate box office hit when it was released in theaters, it may find a wider audience now that it’s available on home video. Here’s how to watch “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” at home: It’s available to stream on Paramount+ for subscribers only.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The CEO of Paramount Global urged staffers at the entertainment conglomerate to focus on their 2024 business goals, even as a handful of industry heavy hitters and investment firms explore a potential acquisition of the company and speculation about looming layoffs intensifies. In a memo issued to employees Thursday and reviewed by Variety, Bob Bakish acknowledged that Paramount’s future “remains a topic of speculation,” a nod to the fact that a group of investors led by Skydance founder David Ellison have engaged in talks with Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said today the company will continue to reduce its global workforce “to operate as a leaner company and spend less.” But there were no further details in a memo to staff obtained by Deadline following a “Bob Live” town hall today.  

David Ellison’s Skydance is said to have made a preliminary offer to buy Shari Redstone’s stake in National Amusements, the family holding company that controls Paramount Global, according to a Bloomberg report.

Coronation Street star Sean Wilson chose a very different career path after turning his back on acting and exiting the ITV soap in 2005. Sean, 58, played Martin Platt in the soap from 1985 until 2005, and was involved in some big storylines including his marriage to Gail Platt (Helen Worth) and becoming dad to David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd).

Many other Republican candidates have suspending their campaigns this cycle, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis‘ exit inspired some pretty biting and snarky reactions today, coming from other politicos and some celebrities.

EXCLUSIVE: Amid speculation about its future, Paramount Global is proceeding with a new wave of staff reductions in February, sources tell Deadline. I hear the cuts will impact hundreds of employees across the entire company.

Tom Cruise‘s latest Mission: Impossible will finally be available for free streaming as part of a subscription service and there’s an interesting change being made.

As former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley took the stage at CNN‘s town hall in New Hampshire, her chief rival in the state’s primary took to another interview on Fox News.

Diego Ramos Bechara editor Paramount Global has chosen the nine writers who will participate in the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program for 2024-2025. Selected in the program’s 20th year are Jamil Akim O’Quinn, Wei Ling Chang, Adrian Colón Jr., Jai Franklin Sarki, Seth Harrington, Natalie Higdon, writing team Dijorn Moss & Trinea Moss and Nick Spates.

Sean Paul has asked Stefflon Don and Jada Kingdom to end their online feud and “live better.”Earlier this week, Kingdom and Don exchanged diss tracks after the latter allegedly indirectly called the other out in a song snippet. Don was the first to release hers with ‘Dat A Dat’ before the Jamaica-born singer replied with the disrespectful ‘London Bed’. It is believed that the conflict started over a spat concerning Don’s ex-boyfriend, afro-fusion superstar Burna Boy.Yesterday, Paul commented on the Don-Kingdom feud in an Instagram post.

Ethan Shanfeld “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is going out with a bang, as Larry David couldn’t leave his long-running comedy without making a few more enemies. In the final season trailer, released by HBO on Thursday, Larry bickers with his usual combatants — Cheryl Hines, Richard Lewis, Ted Danson and of course Susie Essman — as well as a slew of guest stars including Dan Levy, Sean Hayes, Vince Vaughn and Tracey Ullman, who reprises her role as City Councilwoman Irma Kostroski. Series mainstays Jeff Garlin and J.B.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Skydance Media and Paramount Global‘s controlling shareholder are engaged in talks that could fold the home of CBS, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central into a new entity controlled by the people who produce starry Hollywood franchises such as “Mission Impossible” and “Tranformers.” Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount’s corporate parent, National Amusements Inc., is in early discussions with a consortium of investors led by Skydance founder David Ellison,. (above, pictured), according to a person familiar with the matter.

EXCLUSIVE: We understand that Amazon Studios MGM Senior Production & Development Executive Sandino Moya-Smith was unfortunately part of the cuts made by the streaming/theatrical studio this morning.

Paul Thomas Anderson has assembled an all-star trio to star in his next film!

The rumors are true. Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza,” “The Master”) has a new film in the works, and the cast is absolutely stacked.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Paul Thomas Anderson has assembled an all-star cast for his next movie, which will likely be the most expensive of his career. Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, long rumored to be in the movie, and Sean Penn, who recently popped up in Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” will appear in the untitled film. They join Regina Hall, the “Girls Trip” and “The Hate U Give” standout.

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros has Paul Thomas Anderson set to direct Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio & Sean Penn and Oscar host Regina Hall in an untitled film that will begin production January 21 in California. Anderson wrote the script, and he will produce the film with Sara Murphy.