Paramount launches book division as president steps down
Mission Impossible: coming to a bookstore near you
Paramount is launching a publishing division that will turn its vast library of intellectual property into print titles.
This comes just three years after it sold major publishing house Simon and Schuster for more than A$2.3 billion.
Paramount Global Publishing will “develop complementary publishing content inspired by its iconic portfolio of brands and franchises as well as generate new IP through the creation of original stories”, according to an announcement from the company. The division will create content across print, digital, and audio.
Paramount owns numerous high-profile properties, including Star Trek, Transformers, Mission Impossible, Top Gun, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Spongebob Squarepants.
It will sit within the company’s products and experiences operation, which will oversee direct development, creation, and production of the books, with sales and distribution to be handled externally by “a yet-to-be-named partner”.
It follows the recent “two-way, first-look development deal” struck between News Corp’s Fox Entertainment Studios and Harper Collins imprint Avon A, which will see Fox programming adapted into print, and Avon A books turned into movies and television series.
“Stories that originate on the page have a unique power to build immersive worlds, create compelling characters and forge deeper connections with fans,” Josh Silverman, president of Paramount’s products and experiences division, said in the announcement.
“With the launch of Paramount Global Publishing, we’re expanding the reach of our most beloved franchises while also introducing original stories to audiences around the world.”
The imprint will launch later this year in the US and Canada, with plans to expand to other markets in the future. Mumbrella has contacted Paramount Australia for details around local distribution and staffing.
The publishing announcement was made on the same day that Paramount president Jeff Shell stepped down “to focus on [a] lawsuit” brought by high-stakes gambler RJ Cipriani, who is suing both Paramount and Shell for unpaid services Cipriani claims were rendered (Shell is counter-suing Cipriani).
Jeff Shell has stepped down as president of Paramount Global
Cipriani also claimed that Shell gave him insider information about Paramount’s deal with UFC, and its pending deal with Warner Bros Discovery. These claims led to a “complete and thorough” internal investigation, which cleared Shell of the charges.
“The facts demonstrated that these allegations do not establish a securities law violation,” Paramount said in a statement.
“Mr. Shell promptly notified PSKY [Paramount Skydance] of these accusations and is taking forceful legal action. PSKY and its named Board members will respond in the proceedings to the frivolous and baseless claims against PSKY and its named Board members and stockholders.”
Shell was named president of Paramount in August 2025, following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount.
Paramount said it is grateful for Shell’s “many contributions, and to have relied on him as a valued advisor.”
Related Content
SUBSCRIBE
Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.
