Viacom being pressured to sell Paramount

[pannoni1]

Paramount: An Alibaba Comapny

This isn't too similar to when Gulf + Western sold off its underperforming business divisions in the late 1980s and focused more on its entertainment unit. It just costs so much money to acquire a company with a history of films spanning over a century along with paying residuals and maintaining the portfolios.

That second article also cites how Transformers is doing well in China. Interestingly, Lionsgate (owner of the Fred Wolf cartoon) is also mentioned among the possible buyers.

[Galactus]

This deal with Platinum Dunes really is awful. I mean it's not even a Transformers-esque Faustian bargain. It's not like we're getting any stuff we wouldn't be getting due to the "success" of the movies and for the those that just want more turtles literally no one expects this series to get past movie III. Three goes around and that's your lot and then probably dead for the forseeable.

[thundermaster612]

Originally Posted by TheJ-manTurtleMan

I wonder what would happen to TMNT if Disney owned it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

[d_osborn]

Originally Posted by Galactus

It's not like we're getting any stuff we wouldn't be getting due to the "success" of the movies...

You know, I was pretty certain the PD movies would at least give us a decent Blu-ray of the 1990 movie with some supplemental content. It's really perplexing that one of the most successful indie movies of the 90s has barely any decent "making-of" content out there.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

Viacom selling Paramount doesn't mean no more TMNT movies, they will continue making them.

Think about it, Dreamworks is own by another company and holds the Transformers movie right, and they still make them with Paramount even if they are no longer partners.

Even if Paramount is sold off to another company, Nickelodeon will still make the movies with them regardless.

It's only the Bayturtles we want to discontinue, not TMNT movies in general.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by LeotheLateBloomer

It's only the Bayturtles we want to discontinue, not TMNT movies in general.

the PD TMNT movies will continue even if Paramount is sold to another company, Paramount only distributes the movie, The ones making it are Platinum Dunes and Nickelodeon movies.

it's funny seeing people arguing about this without realizing that, Paramount has nothing to do with either TMNT and Transformers movies.

Platinum Dunes has no affiliation with Paramount cause they produced movies that were distributed by other studios.

[IndigoErth]

If only it could simply do away with the PD portion of it. I wouldn't mind seeing what could be done with these Turtles if certain entities were no longer involved and they were put into better hands; turn them into BayfreeTurtles and stop his generic oppression of franchises.

[NinjaPug]

I'm pretty sure Paramount hired Platinum Dunes to make the TMNT movies so saying Paramount is only involved in the distribution of these movies is incorrect.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by NinjaPug

I'm pretty sure Paramount hired Platinum Dunes to make the TMNT movies so saying Paramount is only involved in the distribution of these movies is incorrect.

Actually it was Nickelodeon themselves, who gave Platinum Dunes the rights to make the movie, Paramount was only there to distribute.

Platinum Dunes makes movies that other studios have distribute, Warner Bros, New Line Cinema, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, Columbia Pictures, MGM.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platinum_Dunes

The 3rd Purge movie is produced by Platinum Dunes, and Universal Pictures is distributing that one.

[NinjaPug]

I don't care who has distributed movies from Platinum Dunes. Paramount is just as involved with the production of TMNT movies as Nickelodeon. Paramount struck a first look deal with Platinum Dunes the year before bringing them on board for TMNT.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by NinjaPug

I don't care who has distributed movies from Platinum Dunes. Paramount is just as involved with the production of TMNT movies as Nickelodeon. Paramount struck a first look deal with Platinum Dunes the year before bringing them on board for TMNT.

Either way, if Paramount is sold to another company, Platinum Dunes still have deals with Paramount, like they do with other studios, so this isn't going to affect anything, TMNT will remain and movies will still be made.

[Bry]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

the PD TMNT movies will continue even if Paramount is sold to another company, Paramount only distributes the movie, The ones making it are Platinum Dunes and Nickelodeon movies.

it's funny seeing people arguing about this without realizing that, Paramount has nothing to do with either TMNT and Transformers movies.

Platinum Dunes has no affiliation with Paramount cause they produced movies that were distributed by other studios.

I have no first-hand knowledge of the actual deals or contracts made between Nickelodeon/Paramount and Platinum Dunes. None of us do. This is all speculation, so let's try not to present speculation as fact.

That said, let me prove almost everything you said here incorrect.

Here's some cited development information from the first BayTurtles, via Wikipedia:

In October 2009, following the news of Nickelodeon purchasing all of Mirage's rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, it was announced that Nickelodeon would produce a new film through corporate sibling Paramount Pictures with an expected release date sometime in 2012. In late May 2010, it was announced that Paramount and Nickelodeon had brought Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Bradley Fuller and Andrew Form on to produce the next film that will reboot the film series. Bay, Fuller, and Form would produce alongside Walker and Mednick. For the script, the studio originally hired Art Marcum and Matt Holloway to write the film for close to a million dollars. According to TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, the John Fusco version was a little too edgy for what Paramount wanted.

Reporting on the initial purchase from 2009, via Deadline:

Viacom’s Nickelodeon announced today it has acquired the global intellectual property rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from The Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment. The purchase price was about $60 million. Nickelodeon also announced plans to develop a new CG-animated television series based on the popular superhero franchise for 2012. Also, in partnership with Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, a new release of a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feature film is also planned for 2012. Nickelodeon has also acquired all merchandising rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and will continue to work with its original and long-standing toy partner, Playmates Toys, which has been the creative force behind the TMNT master toy program over the last two decades. The deal was done by Cyma Zarghami, the president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, and Adam Goodman, the president of Paramount Pictures.

Reporting on the Bay/Platinum Dunes announcement from Deadline:

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon have brought Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form on to produce Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the live-action film that reboots the film series launched by New Line in 1990. Bay, Fuller and Form will produce with Galen Walker and Scott Mednick.

...

TMNT, a co-production between Paramount and Nickelodeon, is an outgrowth of the $60 million acquisition made by Nick last October for global rights to the entire Turtles franchise. Right around the same time, Paramount made a first look deal with the Platinum Dunes partners, who will generate genre projects but also want to expand their scope.

And Kevin Eastman confirming that it was specifically Paramount who nixed the John Fusco script:

“Three years ago, I started working on the John Fusco version, which was this awesome, awesome, awesome ‘Batman Begins’ kind of take on the first movie. It was really interesting, but it was maybe a little too edgy for what Paramount wanted. It went through a couple of different versions before Michael Bay took it over and brought in Jonathan Liebesman (‘Wrath of the Titans,’ ‘Battle Los Angeles’) to direct.”

So we know that Platinum Dunes' involvement stems from Bay and PD's exclusive deals with Paramount specifically. Platinum Dunes absolutely has a first-look deal with Paramount. Michael Bay does as well.

Paramount is cited as a partner in the current TMNT movie franchise with Nickelodeon, not "just" a distributor. And it has plenty to do with the movies. It's clearly stated that they've made decisions on its production.

Adding to and confirming with NinjaPug said as well.

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

Either way, if Paramount is sold to another company, Platinum Dunes still have deals with Paramount, like they do with other studios, so this isn't going to affect anything, TMNT will remain and movies will still be made.

That's entirely possible. But it's not a guarantee. It depends on what the contract says. As far as you or I know, the deal could depend on Nick and Paramount being under the Viacom umbrella. And since neither of us has a copy of the paperwork, maybe it's best not to try to speak with too much authority until it's officially confirmed, huh?

[Zak The Neutrino]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

the PD TMNT movies will continue even if Paramount is sold to another company, Paramount only distributes the movie, The ones making it are Platinum Dunes and Nickelodeon movies.

it's funny seeing people arguing about this without realizing that, Paramount has nothing to do with either TMNT and Transformers movies.

Platinum Dunes has no affiliation with Paramount cause they produced movies that were distributed by other studios.

Come on don't crush are dreams like that.

They need to hire some Marvel Studios employees to do a new TMNT movie. Then maybe we would have a chance of non crap.

[The Boston Ninja Turtle]

In the end even with paramount gone ,Viacom and platinum dunes still own film rights....which still give ua bad movies

[snake]

Originally Posted by Zak The Neutrino

Come on don't crush are dreams like that.

They need to hire some Marvel Studios employees to do a new TMNT movie. Then maybe we would have a chance of non crap.

Please, Marvel Studios touching tmnt would be the last thing we need.


I want a darker/first movie toned TMNT, not a reddit quipfest.

[NinjaPug]

Originally Posted by The Boston Ninja Turtle

In the end even with paramount gone ,Viacom and platinum dunes still own film rights....which still give ua bad movies

Platinum Dunes doesn't own anything

[The Boston Ninja Turtle]

They may not directly own but they still are the ones making the current movies...they own something whether it be current film rights or whatever

[TrickOrTreater]

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

Please. Like it would possibly be any worse than what we're getting/have gotten with BayTurtles.

Originally Posted by snake

Please, Marvel Studios touching tmnt would be the last thing we need.

I want a darker/first movie toned TMNT, not a reddit quipfest.

And...Marvel Studios is capable of that? Or did you not see Winter Soldier?

Not that this will ever happen, but Marvel would do LEAPS AND BOUNDS better at adapting TMNT than Platinum Dunes could ever dream.

You know how I know? I saw the first movie.

Never mind the fact that all the Marvel Studios movies are leaps and bounds better than BayTurtles. Yeah I'm including Iron Man 2 in there.

[d_osborn]

Originally Posted by snake

Please, Marvel Studios touching tmnt would be the last thing we need.

Daredevil season 3. Give Kevin Eastman the DD crossover he always wanted.

[Bry]

Originally Posted by snake

Please, Marvel Studios touching tmnt would be the last thing we need.

I want a darker/first movie toned TMNT, not a reddit quipfest.

Daredevil and Jessica Jones say hi.

Even if Marvel movies lean heavy on "fun", they also have plenty of emotional weight to them. And they're competent productions, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for Platinum Dunes. I'd take Marvel over what we've got now in a heartbeat.