The premiere of South Park’s 27th season is at risk due to stalled contract negotiations between show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and studio owner Skydance. The original premiere date was set for earlier this month but has been pushed back to July 23.
South Park, owned by Paramount and its production company Park County, has been a profitable show since its debut in 1997. In 2007, Park County signed a lucrative deal with Paramount that provided them with 50% of streaming revenue. However, the streaming deals expired on June 30, leaving the negotiations at an impasse.
The contract dispute stems from Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition bid for Paramount, which has put the company in a position to review and approve contracts. Park County claims that Skydance lacks authority to make decisions until the merger is finalized. The studio owner maintains that it has the right to approve contracts under the terms of the transaction agreement.
Powerhouse attorney Bryan Freedman represents Parker and Stone, who are also represented by Hunter Biden’s lawyer Kevin Morris. The negotiations remain stalled, with all parties recognizing the need for a quick and positive resolution.
In a recent statement on social media, Trey Parker and Matt Stone expressed their frustration over the situation, stating that the merger is “a s***show” and that it’s affecting South Park.
Source: https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/south-park-season-27-delay-explained-the-creators-3-billion-fight