Tennessee is attempting to lure Paramount out of California.
According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Tennessee sent a letter to David Ellison, the company’s CEO, on July 2nd, discussing a possible relocation.
“Our success is rooted in fiscal discipline, low taxes, predictable governance, and a steadfast belief that government should be a partner in private-sector growth,” said Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee’s deputy governor. “Companies that choose Tennessee find more than a favorable business climate — they find a state committed to helping them succeed.”
McWhorter highlighted the state’s economy, saying it is “increasingly defined by the convergence of creativity, technology, and innovation.”
“We are home to world-class companies, a growing technology sector, globally recognized healthcare and advanced manufacturing industries, and one of the nation’s most vibrant creative communities,” the deputy governor said.
He also noted the state’s “deep and diverse talent pipeline.”
“Nashville’s creative heritage is unmatched, but our state’s talent extends far beyond Music City. We are cultivating a new generation of leaders who are equally comfortable in the worlds of entertainment, digital content, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology,” he said.
According to McWhorter, “[a]s Paramount Skydance writes its next chapter, Tennessee offers a compelling proposition: a state where creativity and technology converge, where talent is developed intentionally, and where innovation is embraced.”
“We would welcome the opportunity to share our vision for how Tennessee could help shape the future of Paramount Skydance and its talented team,” he added.
The Reporter said a Paramount spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
On social media, Gov. Bill Lee courted Paramount this week to move to Tennessee.
“Tennessee is a place where innovation & creativity thrive. Paramount has played an important role in shaping American culture, & we’d welcome the opportunity to see the next chapter of that story unfold in the Volunteer State,” he said.
Ellison previously lived in Tennessee from 2014 to 2025, according to The Reporter.
Currently, Paramount is in a battle with California.
Semafor reported Ellison’s friends and family “have been pushing” him to move his business out of California as the state attempts to block its merger with Warner Bros.
This week, California and 11 other states sought an injunction to block Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
“The unlawful merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount would harm movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“These titans of industry must not move to merge until a court properly evaluates our claims. Today, alongside a coalition of attorneys general, I’ve filed an emergency motion asking the court to immediately stop this merger,” he added. “I will not let Warner Bros. and Paramount merge without a fight.”
In reaction to the complaint, a Paramount spokesperson said the lawsuit “reflects a fundamentally flawed application of the antitrust laws and is wrong on both the facts and the law.”
“We will vigorously defend the transaction and demonstrate that this challenge is inconsistent with sound competition policy and the competitive realities of the media marketplace,” the spokesperson said.
“Delaying this transaction will only harm entertainment workers who have already suffered over recent years as technology has disrupted their livelihood and cost California tens of thousands of entertainment jobs,” the spokesperson added.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
