Paramount Anchors First Look Production Deal With Jon M. Chu

Celebrated filmmaker Jon M. Chu has finalized a three-year, first-look producing deal with Paramount Pictures.

This pivotal agreement, which becomes effective on January 2nd, 2026, secures the services of one of the industry's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed directors. Under the terms of the pact, Chu and his production company will be fully stationed on the Paramount lot, where they will focus on developing and producing both feature film and television projects exclusively for the studio.

The acquisition of Chu’s talent signals a major win for Paramount, particularly in light of his recent unparalleled box office achievements. The director's most recent effort, Wicked: For Good, which debuted in November, has set a new record for the biggest global opening ever for a movie based on a Broadway show. Furthermore, the musical's second installment secured the position of the second-biggest opening at the domestic box office for the entire year of 2025.This success follows the monumental performance of the adaptation's first part, Wicked, which was released in 2024. That film earned widespread critical acclaim and became the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical in cinematic history, accumulating more than $\$756$ million worldwide.

Chu’s track record of blending commercial appeal with cultural significance is indisputable. Prior to the success of the Wicked films, he helmed the global phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians in 2018. That film was a watershed moment for Asian and Asian American representation in Hollywood and became the highest-grossing romantic comedy in nearly a decade upon its release. The production earned numerous accolades, including nominations from the Critics' Choice Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Producers Guild of America (PGA).

The director’s new mandate at Paramount will see him work directly with the studio's top executive leadership. His production efforts will be closely coordinated with Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, Co-Chairs of Paramount Pictures, along with Don Granger, President of the Motion Picture Group, and Matt Thunell, President of Paramount Television Studios. This strategic placement within the studio's infrastructure underscores the significant role Chu is expected to play in Paramount’s development and production slate moving forward.