David Ellison’s Hollywood career has been defined by high-octane blockbusters filled with suspense, stunts and improbable plot twists.
But on Sunday he encountered his biggest cliffhanger yet, closing a deal to merge with Paramount after months of negotiations with the company and its majority shareholder, Shari Redstone. If the deal goes through, he would be in charge of a sprawling media empire that includes CBS, MTV and the Paramount movie studio.
Although Ellison, 41, joined the ranks of Hollywood’s most powerful actors more than a decade ago, he hasn’t really been in the spotlight until now. Here’s a look back at his career.
Who is David Ellison and what is his company, Skydance?
A quick look at Ellison’s page on the Internet Movie Database shows a relatively unremarkable acting career, with minor roles in such films as the combat 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, Ellison turned to producing. His family’s considerable influence (he is the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison) helped him finance big-budget films like “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
Along the way, the valuation of Ellison’s company, Skydance Media, soared to more than $4 billion after private equity firms including RedBird Capital Partners and KKR invested in it. Ellison, Skydance’s chief executive, has co-produced hits such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” with Paramount, giving him access to the company’s executives and its most valuable franchises.
Long before producing “Top Gun: Maverick,” Ellison was already a daredevil. In 2022, he told The New York Times that he began flying planes in his teens and competed in stunt air shows until he was in his 20s.
How is Mr. Ellison’s family involved in Hollywood?
Larry Ellison, who had a cameo in “Iron Man 2,” is personally backing Skydance’s bid for Paramount, bringing his wealth and technology expertise to bear in support of the deal.
David Ellison’s sister, Megan Ellison, is also a Hollywood figure: In 2011, she founded Annapurna, which produced “Her” and “American Hustle.” Ellison’s wife, Sandra Lynn, is also in the entertainment world: She is the country music singer-songwriter behind songs like “I Think of You” and “Somebody Kissed Me at a Bar.” Neither Megan Ellison nor Sandra Lynn are part of Skydance’s executive team.
What are David Ellison’s plans for Paramount?
While 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 U.S. streaming joint venture, in line with the broader trend toward bundling, according to two people familiar with his presentation to Paramount’s board.
Paramount majority shareholder Shari Redstone is excited about other aspects of the Skydance deal, according to two people familiar with her thinking. She believes Ellison’s management team will bring technological and animation know-how to the combined company.
Mr. Ellison also presented Paramount with a plan to boost the company’s streaming capabilities with improved recommendations and more efficient arrangements with data providers, said a person familiar with his presentation. Skydance has stakes in Paramount’s most financially successful shows and movies, including “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” so bringing the two companies together could give the combined company greater flexibility in managing its franchises.
A key executive in the Skydance negotiations is Jeff Shell, the former chief executive of NBCUniversal. Shell, who joined Skydance backer RedBird Capital last year, is in line to fill a senior operating role at Paramount, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Does Skydance have ties to other Hollywood companies?
While 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 partnered with Amazon on films such as “The Tomorrow War” and “Without Remorse.”
Skydance has also recently made inroads into the sports media business. Skydance Sports, a division that began operations in 2021, struck a deal in 2022 to partner with the National Football League (NFL) 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 reporting.
