Noah Wyle on David Ellison’s Threat to Move Paramount From California

Noah Wyle is hoping David Ellison isn’t serious about moving Paramount out of California.

“I hope this is saber rattling because I can’t think of anything that would less engender you to the population of this industry than to say you’re going to take Hollywood out of Hollywood,” the “Pitt” star told me Sunday at the HBO Max Emmy Nominee Celebration in Los Angeles. “But I’m an Angeleno, so I have a vested interest in that one.”

Variety confirmed on Aug. 11 that Ellison is prepared to start moving Paramount out of California as soon as October unless the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger is resolved through a settlement with the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta. Twelve states have filed an antitrust case to block the merger.

Paramount hasn’t yet decided where its new home might be; the company is considering destinations including Georgia, Texas and Tennessee.

In March, Wyle spoke at a hearing organized by California Sen. Adam Schiff, held at City Hall in Burbank, in support of tax incentives to bring film and TV production back to the state. “I was asked to participate in today’s hearing to tell a success story,” Wyle said, according to the Associated Press. “I’m happy to report we’ll commence shooting season three this summer, and that a rising tide has indeed lifted all boats.”

“The Pitt” shoots on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. Wyle said the first season of the HBO series created 600 production jobs and brought $125 million to the state economy.

At the Emmy Nominee Celebration, Wyle said he couldn’t predict what would happen with the merger.

“One article that says this, one article says that, one rumor leads you to believe one thing,” he said. “They haven’t painted the place yet, so who knows.”