South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are threatening legal action as talks over its future rumble on.
The future of the long running animated series is yet to be decided, with the end of its Paramount deal and talks with other streamers.
Negotiations are ongoing to see where the iconic and controversial show will land, with Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery in the running.
However, Jeff Shell – who will become president of Paramount if its merger with Skydance goes through – has now been accused of interfering in contract negotiations.
According to a letter seen by The Hollywood Reporter, Parker and Stone’s Park County entertainment company has threatened legal action.
An attorney for the duo has accused Shell of trying to get Netflix and WBD to alter certain details in their offer in a ‘manner calculated to benefit Paramount at the expense’ of the company.
One accusation includes Shell allegedly trying to get WBD to give Paramount+ an exclusive 12-month window for new South Park episodes, with a five-year deal rather than 10, which could lessen its value amid talks.
In the letter, the attorney says: ‘We hereby demand that you, Redbird, and Skydance immediately cease your interference.
‘If these activities continue, we will have no choice but to act to both protect our rights and discharge any obligations we may have to the public.’
However, a Skydance spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement: ‘Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Skydance has the right to approve material contracts.’
As it stands, there are two years left on Paramount’s $900million deal, and there are talks to extend that to bring South Park to Paramount+.
Paramount, Parker and Stone all operate South Park Digital Studios, which is the owner of the show’s streaming rights.
This structure has caused issues with negotiations, along with Skydance awaiting approval for its acquisition of Paramount.
Until the merger is official, the firm cannot take control or issue directives, due to federal antitrust laws.
Afshin Beyzaee, general counsel at Park County, is said to have written in the letter to Shell: ‘You did this behind Park County’s back. “That self-dealing would have been absolutely restricted if it were done by Paramount itself.
‘So, it is simply outrageous that even before it has been granted the authority to close the merger with Paramount, Redbird and Skydance are jumping the gun and using confidential information of SPDS to purport to make demands on behalf of SPDS that even Paramount has no right to make.’
The South Park Digital Studios board of managers includes Paramount’s Comedy Partners, which has limited rights to act.
Park County has argued that Shell ‘had no right or authority to be demanding that SPDS’s prospective counterparties make modifications to their proposals, especially modifications that would depress the value of their proposals’.
Metro has contacted representatives for South Park, Paramount, Skydance and Redbird for comment.
South Park is available to stream on Paramount+.
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