Paramount is returning to the world of books, nearly three years after selling the previous property to Simon & Schuster for more than $1.6 billion.
The David Ellison-led entertainment company says it will launch Paramount World Publishing this year, a new imprint that will leverage Paramount’s library of characters, stories and intellectual property, and support the development of new original stories.
With franchise fatigue across the industry, books have once again become a hot commodity for studios looking to adapt something with a built-in fanbase, but with original characters and stories. Books are also a part of worldbuilding, helping flesh out cinematic worlds in interesting ways that could eventually find their way to the screen.
Paramount Global Publishing will be housed within the company’s Products and Experiences division, and will be led by President of Global Publishing Amy Garrashow, reporting to President of Products and Experiences Josh Silverman.
The company is expected to operate in print, digital and audio formats, in genres covering all ages and demographics. Sales and distribution at retail will be handled by a partner to be identified.
Paramount will also continue its licensing strategy, working with other publishers and distributors on projects and titles.
Initial titles for Paramount’s effort, as well as its distribution partner, will be revealed later.
“Stories that originate on the page have the unique ability to build immersive worlds, create compelling characters, and forge deeper connections with fans,” Silverman said in a statement. “With the launch of Paramount Global Publishing, we are expanding the reach of our most beloved franchises while also bringing original stories to audiences around the world.”
Paramount, of course, was a publishing giant through Simon & Schuster, home of Stephen King and Colleen Hoover, among many others. However, a $2 billion deal to sell to Penguin Randomhouse was blocked by regulators, leading to a sale to KKR in 2023 for $1.6 billion. Simon & Schuster was considered a “non-core” asset for Paramount, which was downsizing before what became its sale to Skydance.
Paramount Global Publishing was launched a few months after Fox launched its own imprint through HarperCollins (which shares joint ownership in the Murdoch family). This project is also two-way, as the imprint adapts Fox IP, while also developing original titles that can be adapted for the screen.
