Paramount will lean into the comedy genre with its upcoming slate of titles, presented yesterday (June 18) at CineEurope.
On panel sessions at the trade convention, cinema operators have been calling for more-rounded film slates, and decrying the lack of adult-skewing comedies that in the past have been supplied by the likes of The Hangover, Ted, Judd Apatow productions and Adam Sandler vehicles.
In upcoming months, Paramount will release both The Naked Gun (with Seth Macfarlane among the producers, and starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson) and Scary Movie 6 (with Wayans family members Keenen Ivory, Marlon and Shawn among the writers and producers).
Announced is Meet The Parents 4, starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which Paramount has for international markets and Universal in North America. Ariane Grande will join the cast.
At CineEurope, Paramount is famous for its slate presentations preceded by filmed comic skits, led by Mark Viane, president of international theatrical distribution, and roping in territory heads from the EMEA region. This year Viane and the gang spoofed Paramount summer release The Naked Gun, as the team took on UNIK, the Union of Notorious International Killjoys responsible for banishing comedies from theatres. CineEurope is the official convention of UNIC, the International Union of Cinemas.
In his introductory remarks, Viane echoed the words of distribution bosses at earlier studio presentations, with a galvanising message.
“We must deliver the best experience possible so each and every cinema visit is a memorable one,” he said. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to not be complacent, but to offer the best films and the most spectacular cinemas and in-theatre experience going forward as it’s clear that audiences demand the best.”
The presentation began with an emphasis on family films, including July release Smurfs. Following three earlier films from Sony Pictures Animation (2011, 2013, 2018), this reboot from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies promises Smurfs “as you’ve never seen them before”, in a hybrid live-action/animation adventure. Key cast includes Rihanna, James Corden and Nick Offerman. Paramount showed the film’s opening scene, and another where the characters visit a French Smurf cousin in real-world Paris.
Sticking with family, the third Paw Patrol feature film Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is coming in 2026. It is preceded later this year by two one-hour Paw Patrol films that “will be perfect for matinees and weekend kids club slots”, said Viane.
Paramount’s upcoming family slate is rounded out by The Angry Birds Movie 3 and The Spongebob Movie – Search For Squarepants.
Regretting You, the latest film adapted from a novel by Colleen Hoover (following 2024’s It Ends With Us), stars Allison Williams, Dave Franco, McKenna Grace and Mason Thames (star of current hit How To Train Your Dragon).
“This film has it all: romance, drama, intrigue and plenty of heart,” said Viane, who reminded cinema operators that “female-driven content has been lighting up the box office in Europe”, with an “under-served audience eager for tailored programming”. Paramount unveiled an exclusive look at the film, and a message from the four main cast members.
Next came Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, starring Channing Tatum as real-life notorious thief Jeffrey Manchester, and with a cast also including Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple and LaKeith Stanfield. The sizzle outlined the story, which sees Manchester rob a series of McDonald’s branches by entering from the roof, and then evading capture after a prison escape by hiding out in the walls of a Toys “R” Us store.
Another highlight of the presentation was Johannes Roberts’ new horror film Primate, in which pet chimp Ben is a highly socialised member of an American family, able to communicate by tapping symbols on a tablet. However, Ben goes rogue after contracting rabies at a pool party. “Mother nature goes apeshit,” promised the new sizzle.
Studiocanal’s presentation the day before climaxed with a Glen Powell film (Huntington – working title), and so did Paramount’s. Edgar Wright’s The Running Man is based on Stephen King’s dystopian thriller novel, which was freely adapted into a 1987 action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wright will bring “his unique kinetic style and sensibility to this action-packed blockbuster that he has been waiting all his life to bring to the big screen”, said Viane. Leading cast members Powell, Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo sent a message, preceding a special look at the film.
The Running Man is a “crowd-pleasing underdog story”, said Viane, and “a ride-of-your-life movie that is going to give audiences everywhere something to cheer for”.
Paramount’s upcoming slate:
Smurfs
Dir. Chris Miller
The Naked Gun
Dir. Akiva Schaffer
Roofman
Dir. Derek Cianfrance
Regretting You
Dir. Josh Boone
The Legend Of Aang: The Last Airbender
Dir. Lauren Montgomery; co-dir. William Mata
The Running Man
Dir. Edgar Wright
The Spongebob Movie – Search For Squarepants
Dir. Derek Drymon
Primate
Dir. Johannes Roberts
Scream 7
Dir. Kevin Williamson
Untitled Trey Parker/Matt Stone/Kendrick Lamar
Dir. Trey Parker
Scary Movie 6
Dir. TBA
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
Dir. Cal Brunker
The Angry Birds Movie 3
Dir. John Rice
Heart Of The Beast
Dir. David Ayer
Meet The Parents 4
Dir. John Hamburg
Children Of Blood And Bone
Dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood
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