Paramount CEO David Ellison Engages Texas Officials Over Potential Headquarters Relocation

Paramount Pictures' chief executive David Ellison has been meeting state officials in Texas as the studio evaluates a possible move of its corporate headquarters out of California. A public-records request shows Ellison met with Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick in August, a meeting confirmed by Red Sanders, chair of the Texas Media Production Alliance. Sanders said the Oct. 1 deadline, after which a $7 million-per-day penalty could be imposed if a Warner Bros. Discovery deal is not finalized, has been added to the timeline.

Paramount declined to comment, citing ongoing settlement negotiations. While the details of the discussions remain undisclosed, they may involve tax credits, workforce-training grants or property-tax abatements. Texas officials have indicated interest, with the Texas Film Commission’s deputy director Ali Nichols reportedly involved in follow-up talks.

Earlier in July, Tennessee also approached Paramount, but according to Sanders, the state lacked sufficient infrastructure to support the studio’s operations. Ellison subsequently traveled to Austin for meetings with Texas representatives.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has highlighted the state’s aggressive corporate-incentive programs, noting the Texas Enterprise Fund’s “deal-closing” grants and recent expansions to its film and TV incentive budget, which now allocates up to $1.5 billion in subsidies through 2035.

Industry analysts note that a relocation could affect roughly 2,500 jobs in Los Angeles and result in economic losses exceeding $2 billion, according to recent county reports. A source familiar with Ellison’s internal discussions described the move as a matter of corporate survival.