Skydance Media
Skydance Media took its name from a flying technique. David Ellison, a licensed pilot, drew inspiration from aerobatics called "skydancing" when he founded the company on the 4th of April 2006. The name was a clue to what the company would become: something that moves fast, operates at altitude, and tends to show off. By the time Skydance ceased to exist as an independent entity on the 7th of August 2025, it had co-produced some of the highest-grossing action franchises of the 21st century, raised over a billion dollars in credit and equity, and ultimately swallowed one of Hollywood's oldest studios whole. How did a single pilot's passion project grow into an $8 billion merger? And what does it mean that the company's final act was to absorb Paramount Pictures rather than be absorbed by it?
David Ellison's first film as a producer was Flyboys, released on the 22nd of September 2006, co-financed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Ellison himself starred in it. The film signaled something about how this company would operate: close to the action, personally invested, and willing to spend. His father, Larry Ellison, was a co-founder and then-CEO of Oracle Corporation. When the Paramount partnership came together in 2009, it was Larry Ellison, described at the time as the sixth richest person in the world, whose equity investment helped Skydance raise $350 million in equity and credit. That sum allowed the company to position itself not as a passive backer but as a genuine creative partner. Dana Goldberg, hired from Village Roadshow Pictures before August 2010, was brought in to oversee development and production as chief creative officer, giving the company experienced creative leadership to match its financial firepower.
In the fall of 2009, Skydance and Paramount signed a five-year co-financing, production, and distribution agreement. That initial deal was renewed in the summer of 2013 for four more years, then renewed again in August 2017 for an additional four years to 2021, this time extended to include animated films. The relationship produced an unlikely string of blockbusters. True Grit arrived on the 22nd of December 2010. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol followed on the 16th of December 2011. Star Trek Into Darkness, World War Z, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation all clustered around 2013. Each film reinforced what Skydance was good at: big budgets, global distribution, and genre fare that traveled. The apex of the partnership was Top Gun: Maverick, released the 27th of May 2022, co-produced with Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films and TC Productions. Its success validated Skydance as something more than a checkbook.
Skydance Television launched on the 1st of May 2013, with Marcy Ross hired as division president. Its first show, Manhattan, debuted on WGN America on the 27th of July 2014. The series received critical acclaim but failed to hold ratings and was cancelled after two seasons in 2015. The television arm went on to produce Foundation, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Isaac Asimov's science fiction book series, with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman as writers; Apple bought the streaming rights in 2018 and renewed it for a second season upon release in 2021. Skydance Interactive followed in May 2016 after the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment. Its first VR game, Archangel, launched on the 18th of July 2017. The animation division arrived on the 16th of March 2017, through a partnership with Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance New Media, a separate video game studio, was founded the 18th of November 2019, under Amy Hennig, and is developing Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, slated for 2026 and powered by Unreal Engine 5. Skydance Sports rounded out the portfolio, launching the 20th of October 2021, under Jon Weinbach.
Later in 2015, Skydance raised $700 million in new financing: $200 million in equity from a group of investors and a $500 million line of credit from J.P. Morgan Chase. That round reflected how thoroughly the company had outgrown its origins as a one-film operation. On the 25th of January 2018, Tencent bought a 5%-10% minority stake. RedBird Capital Partners and CJ ENM invested in February 2020. On the 13th of October 2022, Skydance completed a $400 million strategic investment round led by KKR, a first-time investor, joined by the Ellison family as majority shareholders. In January 2022, Skydance had also reached a non-exclusive multi-year first-look deal with Apple Original Films; Variety reported it called for two films per year at a budget of at least $125 million each, with Skydance receiving at least $25 million per film while retaining intellectual property rights. By July 2023, Skydance brought in a new $1 billion credit facility, giving the studio what its announcement described as enhanced flexibility across its business lines.
In January 2024, reports surfaced that David Ellison wanted to buy National Amusements, Paramount Global's controlling shareholder, from Shari Redstone. Exclusive talks opened, expired without a deal, then restarted. On June 11, merger talks were reported to have fallen apart. By July 2, negotiations had resumed. On July 7, Ellison officially announced an $8 billion deal: a group of Skydance investors would pay $2.4 billion in cash for National Amusements; Paramount Global would pay its Class A and Class B stockholders $4.5 billion in cash and shares; and Paramount would add $1.5 billion in primary capital to its balance sheet. A second phase called for an all-stock merger between Skydance Media and Paramount, valued at $4.75 billion. Paramount had 45 days to seek competing offers. None materialized. On the 24th of July 2025, the FCC approved the acquisition, and the merger closed on the 7th of August 2025. Skydance Media ceased to exist as a standalone company that day, folding into Paramount Skydance with David Ellison as founder, owner, chairman, and CEO. His film library transferred to Paramount Pictures. Skydance Television merged into a relaunched Paramount Television Studios, with Matt Thunell, who had come from Netflix, serving as president.
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Common questions
Who founded Skydance Media and when was it established?
Skydance Media was founded by David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and was formally established on the 4th of April 2006, initially under the name Skydance Productions. Ellison, a pilot, named the company after an aerobatics technique called "skydancing."
What was the Skydance and Paramount Pictures partnership?
Skydance and Paramount Pictures signed a five-year co-financing, production, and distribution agreement in the fall of 2009. The deal was renewed twice, ultimately extending to 2021, and produced major films including the Mission: Impossible series, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Top Gun: Maverick.
How much did Skydance Media raise in financing over its history?
Skydance raised $350 million in equity and credit in 2010, $700 million in 2015 (including a $500 million credit line from J.P. Morgan Chase), $400 million in a 2022 KKR-led round, and a $1 billion credit facility in July 2023.
Why did Skydance Media merge with Paramount Global?
David Ellison pursued a merger to acquire Paramount's controlling shareholder, National Amusements, from Shari Redstone. The resulting $8 billion deal, announced the 7th of July 2024, gave Ellison control of one of Hollywood's oldest studios and transferred Skydance's film library to Paramount Pictures.
What happened to Skydance Media after the Paramount merger?
Skydance Media ceased to exist as an independent company on the 7th of August 2025, when its merger with Paramount Global closed following FCC approval on the 24th of July 2025. The combined entity became Paramount Skydance, with David Ellison serving as founder, owner, chairman, and CEO.
What divisions did Skydance Media operate?
Skydance operated five divisions: Skydance Television (launched the 1st of May 2013), Skydance Interactive (launched May 2016, focused on VR games), Skydance Animation (founded the 16th of March 2017), Skydance New Media (founded the 18th of November 2019, led by Amy Hennig), and Skydance Sports (launched the 20th of October 2021, led by Jon Weinbach).
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144 references cited across the entry
- 1webBusiness Search on Skydance + LLCCalifornia Secretary of State
- 2webFCC Approves Skydance's Acquisition of Paramount CBSJuly 24, 2025
- 3webParamount Co-CEOs Confirm Skydance Deal Closing Date, Laud Employee Efforts During ProcessDade Hayes — July 25, 2025
- 4webSkydance Media and Paramount Global Complete Merger, Creating Next Generation Media CompanyParamount Staff — August 7, 2025
- 5newsDavid Ellison raises $350 million to co-fund movies with ParamountClaudia Eller — 2010-08-16
- 6webKurtzman, Orci eye move to SkydanceJustin Kroll — 2011-10-25
- 7newsSkydance Productions to Launch TV Division, Taps Former Fox Exec Marcy Ross as PresidentLacey Rose — April 3, 2013
- 8webSkydance Taps Jesse Sisgold As President Of Business Affairs & Strategic PlanningPatrick Hipes — 2014-01-24
- 9webSkydance Ups Jesse Sisgold to COO15 July 2014
- 10webDavid Ellison's Skydance Promotes Jesse Sisgold to President in Growth PushDave McNary — 2017-01-26
- 11newsDon Granger Takes Exec Veep Post At David Ellison's Skydance ProductionsMike Jr. Fleming — March 4, 2014
- 12webSkydance Gets Its Own Marketing Maven: Anne Globe Hired As CMOMike Jr. Fleming — 2015-03-03
- 13newsDavid Ellison's Skydance Raises $700 Million In Funding For Film, TV SlatesMike Jr. Fleming — 2016-03-29
- 14newsSkydance Media Buys Game Developer The Workshop And Launches Interactive DivisionMike Jr. Fleming — May 3, 2016
- 15newsDavid Ellison's Skydance Launches Uncharted Label With 'Baywatch'Dave McNary — 2016-12-09
- 16webSkydance Launches Animation Studio With Spain-Based IlionMike Jr. Fleming — March 16, 2017
- 17newsSkydance, Paramount Ink New Four-Year DealMia Galuppo — August 7, 2017
- 18webChina's Tencent acquires minority stake in Skydance MediaRyan Faughnder — 26 January 2018
- 19webAs Annapurna Stumbles, Billionaire Larry Ellison Exerts ControlBrent Lang — October 10, 2018
- 20newsDavid Ellison's Skydance Taps Jun Oh to Lead Theatrical, Interactive Business and Legal AffairsTrey Williams — October 22, 2018
- 21webSkydance Gets $275M Infusion From RedBird Capital & 'Parasite' Studio CJ, Raising Valuation To $2.3BAnthony D'Alessandro — February 11, 2020
- 22webSkydance Media Hires Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon as General CounselDave McNary — 29 April 2020
- 23newsSkydance Taps Veteran Producer Jon Weinbach to Head New Sports DivisionDade Hayes — 20 October 2021
- 24webWith Apple Megadeal, Skydance's David Ellison Scores One of the Richest Pacts in HollywoodMatt Donnelly, Brent Lang et al. — 2022-02-23
- 25newsDavid Ellison's Skydance Moves First-Look Deal From Paramount to ApplePamela McClintock — January 21, 2022
- 28webSkydance Secures New $1B Credit Facility With JPMorgan2023-07-11
- 29newsDavid Ellison Makes Offer for Redstone Family's Media Empire2024-01-24
- 31webParamount and Skydance agree to terms of a merger dealLillian Rizzo — 2024-06-03
- 32webParamount, Skydance Agree on New M&A Deal Terms but Shari Redstone Hasn't Approved Pact YetTodd Spangler — June 3, 2024
- 33newsParamount's rumored merger with Skydance is offEmma Roth — 11 June 2024
- 34webNo Deal: Shari Redstone Ends Talks On Skydance Offer for Paramount GlobalAlex Weprin — 2024-06-11
- 35newsParamount and Skydance Are Said to Reach a Deal to MergeBenjamin Mullin et al. — 2024-07-02
- 36newsThey're Back: Skydance and Paramount Restart TalksErik Hayden — 2 July 2024
- 37newsMeet David Ellison, Paramount's Future Boss and Hollywood's Newest MogulBenjamin Mullin — 2024-07-07
- 38webParamount Global to merge with Skydance MediaAimee Picchi et al. — July 8, 2024
- 39webTop Of The Mountain: David Ellison's Skydance Taking Over Paramount After $8 Billion InvestmentDade Hayes — 2024-07-08
- 41webParamount Skydance Merger Finally ClosesDade Hayes — August 7, 2025
- 43webRyan Reynolds Buddy Comedy ‘Mayday’ From Apple Sets September Release DateJustin Kroll — February 3, 2026
- 44webMatchbox Cars Movie In The Works From Skydance & MattelAnthony D'Alessandro — Deadline Hollywood — 2022-07-19
- 45webJohn Cena To Star In Matchbox Movie From Sam Hargrave, Skydance, Mattel Films And AppleJustin Kroll — September 17, 2024
- 46webMattel’s ‘Matchbox The Movie’ To Vroom On Apple TV This OctoberAnthony D'Alessandro — February 3, 2026
- 47webSkydance Ties Up Global Deal For Chris Pratt & McG Movie The Way Of The Warrior Kid Marking Biggest Film Market Pact In YearsAndreas Wiseman et al. — June 6, 2024
- 48webApple Original Films Sets Fall Premiere For Chris Pratt & Linda Cardellini Movie ‘Way Of The Warrior Kid’Anthony D'Alessandro — February 3, 2026
- 49webIncredibles 3 in the Works at PixarDrew Taylor — August 10, 2024
- 51webParamount Dates John Tuggle Pic For Christmas; Adds Potsy Ponciroli’s ‘The Rescue’ & Teyana Taylor’s ‘Get Lite’ & More To 2027Anthony D'Alessandro — February 6, 2026
- 52webMila Kunis To Produce, Star In Skydance Romance 'The 47 Night Stand'Matt Grobar — February 28, 2024
- 53webColin Trevorrow, 'House of the Dragon' Writer Charmaine DeGraté Team for 'Atlantis' at Skydance (Exclusive)Borys Kit — February 6, 2023
- 54webScott Derrickson to Direct Skydance's 'Bermuda' With Chris Evans Circling Lead (EXCLUSIVE)Justin Kroll — March 4, 2020
- 56web'Buck Rogers': Skydance Developing Competing Movie Based on Pulp HeroBorys Kit et al. — February 2, 2021
- 57webSkydance Pays $2 Million+ For Sci-Fi Short Story 'Drift:' Andy Muschietti To Direct Space Mission Hostage Movie After Wild AuctionMike Fleming Jr — May 12, 2025
- 58webSkydance, 'Jurassic World' Scribe Derek Connolly Tackling Sega's 'Eternal Champions' (Exclusive)Borys Kit — August 16, 2024
- 59magazineG.I. Joe: Retaliation producer says sequel ideas are still in developmentNick Romano — May 13, 2021
- 60webMichael B. Jordan to Play Tom Clancy Character John ClarkJustin Kroll — September 20, 2018
- 61webSkydance, Ted Melfi Team For Screen Adaptation Of John Flanagan's 'Ranger's Apprentice' YA NovelsMike Jr. Fleming — January 5, 2024
- 62web'1923' Star Brandon Sklenar Saddles Up For Modern Day Western 'The Rescue' From Skydance And Potsy PonciroliJustin Kroll — January 28, 2025
- 63webStar Trek 4 is Officially a Go; Synopsis & Writers RevealedSean K. Cureton — July 18, 2016
- 64web'Divergent' Filmmaker to Direct 'Summer Frost' for Skydance and Temple Hill (EXCLUSIVE)Justin Kroll — June 24, 2020
- 65web'The Tomorrow War 2': Amazon & Skydance Already In Talks For Sequel Reteaming With Chris Pratt, Director Chris McKay & MoreAnthony D'Alessandro — July 8, 2021
- 66web'Tomorrow War' Sequel Talks Underway With Chris Pratt, Director Chris McKay ReturningAdam B. Vary — 2021-07-08
- 67webLee Isaac Chung To Direct Sci-Fi Family Drama 'The Traveler' For SkydanceMatt Grobar — January 21, 2025
- 68webNetflix Sets Skydance Animation In Multi-Year Deal, First Up Is Alan Menken Musical 'Spellbound;' Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem StarMike Jr. Fleming — October 18, 2023
- 69webSkydance Lands Rights To Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Book Series With Plans To Develop A Feature Film Around The Iconic Private EyeJustin Kroll — August 2, 2023
- 70webSkydance TV Taps Carolyn Harris as V.P., Promotes PairA. J. Marechal — 2013-06-24
- 72webBill Bost Named President of Skydance Television30 January 2020
- 73webNetflix's Matt Thunell Replaces Bill Bost as Skydance TV President8 November 2022
- 74newsSkydance Television Taps Jake Rose as EVP Production20 May 2014
- 75webCarol Turner Joins Skydance TV as EVP Television Physical Production6 March 2018
- 76webWGN America Renews 'Manhattan' for Season 2Cynthia Littleton — October 14, 2014
- 77magazineManhattan canceled after two seasonsOliver Gettell — February 3, 2016
- 78webSam Raimi Inks First-Look Deal with Skydance Television5 April 2017
- 79webSkydance TV Pacts with 'Sword Art Online' Producers Patrick Massett & John Zinman28 September 2017
- 80webSkydance Trying Asimov's 'Foundation' As TV Series; David Goyer, Josh Friedman To AdaptMike Jr. Fleming — June 27, 2017
- 81webApple Lands Isaac Asimov 'Foundation' TV Series From David Goyer & Josh FriedmanMike Jr. Fleming et al. — April 10, 2018
- 82webFoundation Renewed for Season 2Keisha Hatchett — October 7, 2021
- 84news'Dark Knight' Writer David S. Goyer Inks Overall Deal with Skydance TVWill Thorne — 13 September 2019
- 88webSkydance Television Strikes Overall Deal with Writer Olivia Purnell9 August 2019
- 89webNick Santora Inks Overall Deal with Skydance TV4 May 2020
- 91webSkydance TV Inks First-Look Deal With Exile Content Studio (EXCLUSIVE)Elaine Low — 2020-12-10
- 92webSkydance Television Strikes First-Look Deal With Brian Grazer & Ron Howard's Impact To Find Emerging VoicesPeter White — 2021-02-04
- 93newsPeter Johnson Joins Skydance TelevisionNellie Andreeva — 13 November 2021
- 95webJames Patterson Sets First-Look Deal at Skydance TV21 March 2023
- 96webSkydance TV Expands: Doubles Series Output Amid Industry Pullback, Sets First-Look Pact With Undisputed CinemaJennifer Maas — 2024-05-21
- 97webRevived Paramount TV Studios To Be Led By Matt Thunell; Will Absorb Taylor Sheridan Home MTVE, Showtime & Skydance TV; Keith Cox Staying OnNellie Andreeva — Penske Media Corporation — August 4, 2025
- 98web‘aka Charlie Sheen’ Two-Part Tell-All Doc Gets Netflix Premiere Date, First-Look TrailerGreg Evans — August 13, 2025
- 99webJack Kesy Joins Anthony Mackie & Jamie Dornan In Apple Heist Series '12 12 12′Nellie Andreeva — April 23, 2025
- 100magazineMatthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson to Reunite After 'True Detective' in Apple TV+ ComedyMichael Schneider — 14 March 2023
- 101web'Faster Than Light' Augmented Reality Comic Series Being Developed For TV By SkydanceDenise Petski — April 8, 2016
- 102newsTV series 'Hotel del Luna' to be remade in USGyu-lee Lee — June 24, 2020
- 103webRemake of 'Hotel del Luna' coming to the USJang-won Lim — June 24, 2020
- 104newsK-drama Hotel del Luna to get US remake25 June 2020
- 105web'Reacher' Spinoff 'Neagley' Starring Maria Sten Nears Amazon GreenlightNellie Andreeva — September 4, 2024
- 106webApple Greenlights New Sci-Fi Drama Series Neuromancer Based On William Gibson NovelRosy Cordero — February 28, 2024
- 109webOctavia Spencer & Hannah Waddingham To Star In New Prime Video Series From Tessa CoatesRosy Cordero — December 19, 2023
- 111web'Ring Shout' KiKi Layne Monster Slaying Netflix Series: What We Know So Far18 January 2022
- 113webCinderella Fairy Godparents Musical Series From Skydance TV In Works At Disney+; Jennifer Lopez Producing, Rachel Shukert EP & ShowrunnerAnthony D'Alessandro — July 21, 2025
- 114webJapanese Novel and Anime Franchise Sword Art Online Being Adapted as Live-Action TV SeriesLesley Goldberg — August 2, 2016
- 115newsLive-Action Sword Art Online Producer: Series Sold to Netflix, Will Have Asian Lead ActorsFebruary 13, 2018
- 118magazine『シュタゲ』ハリウッド実写化や『シュタインズ・ゲート ゼロ エリート』制作決定! "科学ADVライブS;G1010th Anniversary"発表まとめ2020-01-26
- 119webSteins;Gate Game Gets Hollywood Live-Action ShowEgan Loo — January 26, 2020
- 120webKevin Kay Details Plans For the Paramount Network, Talks Future Of 'Nashville'Nellie Andreeva — March 30, 2017
- 124webSkydance Taps Former Discovery Exec Dan Prigg as Head of Interactive Division15 February 2022
- 126webCES: Skydance Interactive Announces Its First Virtual Reality Title5 January 2017
- 127webInteractives Archive
- 128webSkydance Hires VR Exec Chris Hewish as EVP Interactive3 May 2017
- 131news'The Walking Dead' Universe Heads to VR With 'The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners'Vikki Blake — 2018-07-18
- 135webAmy Hennig joins Skydance Media to create "new story-focused experiences"Matt Wales — November 18, 2019
- 136webMarvel announces new project with Amy Hennig's new game studioPetrana Radulovic — October 29, 2021
- 138webAmy Hennig Possibly Revisiting 'Project Ragtag'Grant Davis (Pomojema) — 2022-04-20
- 139webFirst Ever Disney and Marvel Games Showcase Coming in SeptemberRyan Dinsdale — 2022-08-15
- 140webAmy Hennig's Marvel game will be shown in September at D232022-08-15
- 143webCaptain America & Black Panther Fight Hydra in WW2-Era Game From Uncharted DirectorJulia Anderson — 2022-09-09
- 144magazineSkydance's Marvel Game Stars Black Panther And Captain AmericaBrian Shea