{"id":21987,"date":"2026-07-30T12:05:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T07:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=21987"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:05:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T07:05:48","slug":"paramount-sacrifices-universal-deal-but-will-it-keep-cinema-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=21987","title":{"rendered":"Paramount Sacrifices Universal Deal, But Will It Keep Cinema Safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cCinema may have peaked,\u201d was how United International Pictures sales manager Kenneth J\u00f8nsson greeted the arrival of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/the-odyssey\/\" id=\"auto-tag_the-odyssey\" data-tag=\"the-odyssey\">The Odyssey<\/a> <\/em>in Norway. \u201cTrust me, this is one for the ages, and a huge reminder of how lucky we are to work with films and filmmakers like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tJ\u00f8nsson posted his love letter to Christopher Nolan\u2019s epic <a rel=\"nofollow\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7483520008283873280\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7483520008283873280\/\" target=\"_blank\">on LinkedIn<\/a> just before the movie\u2019s premiere. A couple of weeks on, there are very real questions about the future of United International Pictures (UIP) and whether it will continue to serve the filmmakers J\u00f8nsson admires.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThat\u2019s because <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/paramount\/\" id=\"auto-tag_paramount\" data-tag=\"paramount\">Paramount<\/a> has agreed to exit UIP, its 50-50 joint venture with <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/universal-pictures\/\" id=\"auto-tag_universal-pictures\" data-tag=\"universal-pictures\">Universal Pictures<\/a>, to secure <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/07\/paramount-warner-bros-eu-approval-1236999973\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/07\/paramount-warner-bros-eu-approval-1236999973\/\">regulatory approval for its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery<\/a> in the European Union. In remedies laid down by the European Commission, the EU\u2019s antitrust enforcer, Paramount will need to unwind its links to UIP within 13 months of closing the Warner merger, walking away from a company that has been part of the European cinema landscape for 44 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tParamount declined to comment on how it will disentangle itself from UIP or whether the venture will continue without its stewardship. Universal Pictures also declined to comment on the European Commission ruling last week. UIP did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-large aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((683\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-deadline-2019\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"'The Odyssey' global box office\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=60,40 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=352,235 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=110,73 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=285,190 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=640,427 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDODYS_UV010.jpg?resize=1280,853 1280w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-font-size-12 lrv-u-padding-tb-025\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" lrv-u-font-size-16 lrv-u-font-size-14@mobile-max lrv-a-font-body-m u-font-style-italic lrv-u-font-weight-bold lrv-u-font-family-primary u-line-height-20 u-letter-spacing-0 u-line-height-18@mobile-max\">UIP distributed \u2018The Odyssey\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\" lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-font-size-10 lrv-a-font-basic-xxs lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Melinda Sue Gordon\/Universal<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tSo here\u2019s what we know: Paramount will terminate its 50% stake in UIP, meaning it will have to seek alternative distribution arrangements in the 100 territories in which UIP has a presence. Paramount may be able to tap into Warner Bros. Pictures operations in some of these locations or piggyback on Warner\u2019s existing partnerships, but only if the partner has no role in distributing Universal or Disney films.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tWarner has a distribution deal with SF Studios in the Nordics, for example, but if Paramount wanted to switch its UIP films into this agreement, it would need to establish that SF Studios has no similar arrangements with Universal and Disney. This would ensure Paramount does not fall foul of European Commission conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tWhatever the outcome, UIP will have significantly fewer titles to handle, which will inevitably create uncertainty for the company\u2019s 200 employees (even if it does distribute some non-Paramount-Universal titles, such as Lionsgate\u2019s <em>Michael<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tHeadquartered in Chiswick, a leafy suburb of west London, UIP does not have a CEO, though former STX Entertainment executive Rhiannon Harries serves as chief operating officer and appears to be one of the company\u2019s most senior figures. Paramount and Universal lawyers act as directors of UIP\u2019s British operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tUIP posted sales of nearly \u00a3198M ($263M) in 2024, per its most recent accounts filed at the UK\u2019s Companies House. It recorded a pre-tax profit of \u00a312.2M. In its pomp, UIP boasted box office takings of $2.5 billion, but was much diminished in 2007, when Paramount and Universal took direct control of distribution in key markets, including France, Brazil, and Italy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tStewart Till, the British executive who ran UIP for four years until 2006, said Paramount\u2019s exit would be the end of an era for a company that combined the \u201cbest of Hollywood with local decision makers.\u201d He said the exit was \u201cnot irrelevant\u201d for Paramount given that it will have to make alternative arrangements in UIP territories. \u201cIt\u2019s not a coincidence that Paramount hasn\u2019t done that since 2007,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThere is a feeling, however, that divesting from UIP is a small concession for Paramount to make in the context of an industry-reshaping $111B union with Warner Bros. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tA well-placed industry executive said: \u201cI can\u2019t see it making any difference, to be honest. The pieces will just move around between even fewer players, meaning even less competition. Maybe there needs to be further regulation introduced so that no single local distribution company has dominant market share, and other ways to stimulate competition and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThe International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), which represents cinema operators across 39 European territories, agrees. Laura Houlgatte, UNIC\u2019s chief executive, told Deadline: \u201cWhile the remedy addresses an important structural issue, it does not tackle similar risks\u00a0that arise\u00a0from theatrical distribution arrangements outside the UIP territories,\u00a0nor does the Commission decision address\u00a0a number of wider concerns that UNIC raised throughout the review.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   aligncenter size-large aligncenter lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:1024px;\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((640\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-deadline-2019\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Top Gun: Maverick.\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg 2563w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=150,94 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=300,188 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=1024,640 1024w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=1536,961 1536w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=2048,1281 2048w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=160,100 160w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=60,38 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=352,220 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=110,69 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=285,178 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=320,200 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=640,400 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=800,500 800w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/top-gun-maverick-2-e1654192962224.jpg?resize=1280,801 1280w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"640\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-font-size-12 lrv-u-padding-tb-025\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" lrv-u-font-size-16 lrv-u-font-size-14@mobile-max lrv-a-font-body-m u-font-style-italic lrv-u-font-weight-bold lrv-u-font-family-primary u-line-height-20 u-letter-spacing-0 u-line-height-18@mobile-max\">UIP re-released \u2018Top Gun\u2019 and \u2018Top Gun: Maverick\u2019 in cinemas earlier this year<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\" lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-font-size-10 lrv-a-font-basic-xxs lrv-u-margin-l-025\">Paramount<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tDuring the European Commission\u2019s investigation process, Houlgatte said the UNIC advocated for \u201csafeguards around theatrical exclusivity and release windows, as well as measures to help maintain a strong and diverse pipeline of films for cinemas and audiences.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tParamount CEO David Ellison has attempted to assuage these concerns with commitments to release more than 30 cinema films a year and hold to a minimum theatrical window of 45 days. He will continue making this case while the merger is on ice as Paramount fights a lawsuit from 12 U.S. state attorneys general, who argue the deal stifles competition for theatrical film distribution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThe Balanced Economy Project, an apolitical UK non-profit that lobbies against monopolies, is not convinced. It said the European Commission\u2019s UIP remedy \u201cdoes nothing obvious about the future bargaining power of a combined Paramount-Warner studio.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tThe Balanced Economy Project added: \u201cCinemas would still face one fewer independent major studio. Broadcasters and platforms would still face a larger owner of premium rights. Producers and creative suppliers would still face another reduction in major routes to market.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tParamount breaking bonds with Universal signals the end of some European cinema history, but discovering whether it\u2019s enough to safeguard a precarious business from a new monolith will be its own odyssey of sorts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<em>Andreas Wiseman contributed to this story <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cCinema may have peaked,\u201d was how United International Pictures sales manager Kenneth J\u00f8nsson greeted the arrival of The Odyssey in Norway. \u201cTrust me, this is one for the ages, and a huge reminder of how lucky we are to work with films and filmmakers like this.\u201d J\u00f8nsson posted his love letter to Christopher Nolan\u2019s epic&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/transparent-Photoroom-1-2.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}