Emma Watts is out as Paramount’s motion picture group president. Watts exits just over a year in the job, on the heels of her former Fox boss Jim Gianopulos—whose jaw-dropping ouster as Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO shook up Hollywood in early September. Gianopulos was replaced by Brian Robbins, the former head of Viacom’s Nickelodeon label. (Variety)
In her position, Watts oversaw all film operations at Paramount and Paramount Players, the latter of which was actually founded by Robbins before he left to run Nickelodeon. She replaced Wyck Godfrey as president of the motion picture group in June 2020. (TheWrap)
Paramount executives Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland will become the new co-heads of the studio in the wake of the exit of Watts. Cercek and Ireland have been co-presidents of film since January 2021 and both reported to Watts. (THR)
Cercek and Ireland will report directly to Robbins, president and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures, effective pronto. They will continue to oversee the studio’s motion picture slate from development through release for Paramount Pictures, as well as leading casting, physical production and post-production. (Deadline)