Variety

Ynon Kreiz, the new co-CEO of the merged Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery, will receive a pay package of more than $46.5 million and an annual base salary of $5 million. By comparison, as CEO of Mattel, Inc., Kreiz in 2025 received a total compensation package of $15.1 million (including at $1.6 million salary). https://lnkd.in/gDjaCjaa

LISTEN: On today’s episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast, as part of Variety‘s annual Business of Broadway and New York Issue events, veteran producer Sue Frost discusses her work in bringing original musicals to life, notably acclaimed Broadway productions “Memphis” and “Come From Away.” https://lnkd.in/gwXMvUkj

Netflix has hired former Disney TV comms executive Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul as vice president of series communications. Bulochnikov-Paul will oversee communications for the streamer’s television portfolio, including scripted and unscripted series, documentary series, consumer products and experiences (including Netflix House), and emerging content, including live, sports, games, and creators, including podcasts. https://lnkd.in/g8XhB-W8

Casey Bloys says he believes David Ellison will “maintain what we’ve done” at HBO once the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger is official: “I’m not going to get into my job requirements or anything like that. But so here’s what I will say. Obviously, there was news this week,” he said, referring to Paramount streaming boss Cindy Holland announcing her departure. “And obviously there’s news across the board. I will say that the merger is not closed. I believe that David [Ellison] and the team want to announce their leadership structure, it’s not mine to announce. So I don’t have any news to confirm.” Bloys said that he’s had many conversations with Ellison, “and he is very excited, very respectful of what the HBO team has done, not just in my tenure, but the entire history of HBO. All of the owners that we have had, we have had people come in genuinely excited and wanting to maintain what we’ve done. And I really believe that he will do that.” https://lnkd.in/gGn6Fqp2

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With HBO boss Casey Bloys remaining in charge after the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which Paramount+ shows could move to HBO Max? Sources point to the Taylor Sheridan universe: “Dutton Ranch,” “Tulsa King,” “Lioness” and more. “I think ‘Landman’ is something that could easily be on the periphery of HBO,” said one insider. https://lnkd.in/g92aATcr

Tom Cruise's "Digger" is tracking for a domestic opening in the $12 million to $15 million range. Projections were originally near $20 million but were revised down in recent days. All eyes have been on Cruise to see if he can deliver a much-needed win for Warner Bros. amid a bleak year for the studio at the box office. WB has not had a single movie cross $100 million domestically (by comparison, seven of its films did so in 2025) and has lost millions of dollars in theaters on the likes of "The Bride," "Supergirl" and "The End of Oak Street." "Digger" was greenlit at $125 million, but according to sources the budget climbed to $160 million to $180 million after production went over schedule. A Warner Bros. spokesperson disputes those figures. The studio says the movie needs to earn $300 million to break even in theaters. wp.me/pc8uak-1lHOta

HBO chief Casey Bloys is poised to run HBO and Paramount+ as Cindy Holland confirms her exit from the studio ahead of the merger closing. "As David readies for the next phase of his vision, we’ve discussed my role and the future of the combined businesses. David is optimizing for HBO stability as we move into this next chapter, and I fully support that. I know this team has the leadership and expertise to manage through the transition and the next phase of the company, and to this end today will mark my last day here," Holland wrote in a statement. https://lnkd.in/gWRkdUJq

Ivo Gerscovich, Head of SEGA Brands; Chief Business & Brand Officer, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega of America, Inc., joins Sammi Tannor Cohen, CEO, Social Currency Media & Host, "Social Currency with Sammi Cohen" Podcast, to discuss location-based entertainment and how he’s growing brands to create unique experiences for fans at Variety’s Entertainment & Technology Summit. Variety Toplines presented by EY

The Walt Disney Company is laying off a few hundred employees across multiple departments, Variety has confirmed. The layoffs, the third round this year under recently appointed CEO Josh D’Amaro, are primarily in Disney’s human resources and IT departments, according to a source familiar with the cuts. https://lnkd.in/gqp2RPYg