Nicole Kidman Elle Fanning

Source: La Biennale di Venezia. / Giorgio Zucchiatti / Gabriel Hutchinson (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)

Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning

Could a reenergised Paramount+ under Cindy Holland be good news for the independent film business?

Sources report increased activity from the streaming platform’s acquisitions team, including during festivals and markets, as they look to buy third-party titles.

Holland, the former head of originals at Netflix, is now the chair of direct-to-consumer at Paramount+; Jane Wiseman is the head of originals.

International sales executives and US and UK independent theatrical distributors continue to lament the scarcity of pay-TV deals and low-ball offers by the streamers that distributors rely on to help pay minimum guarantees.

As some pay-TV deals are understood to be coming up for renewal, this could be the moment when an ambitious streamer steps up.

There has been speculation for some time that Paramount+ could be one such ambitious streamer. Sources have suggested it would, in theory, make an ideal pay-TV partner for a company such as 101 Studios. The producer of cornerstone Paramount+ shows created by Taylor Sheridan such as Yellowstone, Landman and spy series Lioness starring Kidman is said to be considering a move into theatrical distribution, among other strategic options.

Big swings

Since David Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount Pictures went through in August, the studio has taken a series of big swings to make its mark. On the film side, it wasted no time in snapping up the James Mangold-Timothée Chalamet heist package High Side and signing an exclusive deal with Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers.

This week, Paramount+ acquired the legal thriller Discretion starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, ordering it straight to series in a competitive situation.

The eight-episode series is being produced by A24 and according to reports, a production start has been earmarked for 2026. Based on Chandler Baker’s adaptation of her upcoming short story of the same name, it will focus on an associate at a Dallas law practice who uncovers the truth behind the company’s NDA (non-disclosure agreements), disrupting the relationship with her mentor and senior partner. 

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