J.J. Abrams may have spent the best part of the last half decade working with Disney on the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but currently he has a deal with Paramount that has seen him bring home Mission: Impossible and Star Trek projects.
However, that deal is soon opening up, allowing other competitors to dive in and steal him away (for an insanely ridiculous amount of money no doubt). Deadline take a look at his potential suitors, which of the big players is best placed to be Abram’s new home and why he would be such a catch.
Sources with knowledge of the bake-off said that Universal, Disney and Warner Bros are the major studios battling it out, with Disney and Warner Bros. — which has housed Bad Robot’s TV division — considered favorites, but with Universal pulling out all the stops to win the deal. Apple is also an intriguing alternative, as the cash-rich company looks to make Abrams a fulcrum for its own creative content ambitions in Hollywood.
It has been left up to the suitors to make proposals on size of the deal, put pilots and features, and other every other facet. Sources said Paramount, which long held the Bad Robot film deal, is getting a courtesy meeting as negotiations get hot and heavy over the next few weeks. But it is expected to come down to the studios that have the biggest platforms, including theme parks, music labels, TV, merchandising and concrete plans for streaming services that can best suit Bad Robot’s creative ambitions. People in the mix said Abrams is making a big play here to establish his legacy, on a host of platforms. He plans to ramp up, very aggressively.
Whoever lands the deal will be lucky to have him, as Abrams has pedigree in reviving and injecting coaxium into already established franchises. With most major studios having plenty of potential vehicles to either revive or reinvigorate, Abrams would be the perfect man to have around. Plus with his clear intent to content create his own fresh worlds the sky would be the limit.
