Episode 130: Range Media's Paramount First-Look Deal

Range Studios, the production arm of Range Media Partners, is in final talks to close a two-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures focused on commercially elevated theatrical releases. The deal formalizes a relationship that's already operational — with projects including an R-rated workplace comedy and the Osgood Perkins/Nicolas Cage follow-up to Longlegs already in development under its terms. For agents, producers, and executives tracking where preferential studio partnerships are landing, this is a signal worth reading carefully. Key Takeaways: Range Studios is in final talks on a 2-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures, focused on commercially elevated theatrical releases. Fred Berger's film & production division has produced nearly 20 films in the last 3 years, including the Academy Award-nominated A Complete Unknown and the Oz Perkins horror breakout Longlegs. Already in development under the deal: Bald Eagles, an R-rated workplace comedy preempted by Paramount in a competitive situation, and Osgood Perkins' Nicolas Cage follow-up to Longlegs, slated for January 2028 release. Range currently has four films in production or pre-production across four different buyers: Amazon MGM, Neon, and two independent productions — demonstrating multi-buyer leverage even as they formalize a Paramount home base. Founding partner Jack Whigham will serve in an advisory and producing role on Paramount projects — a manager-as-producer structure that draws scrutiny but is backed by demonstrable output. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones departed the Range Studios exec team to join Oddfellows, but remains a producing partner on existing projects including Longlegs 2. The deal is in final talks — not signed — but is functionally operational given existing projects already developing under it. For agents and showrunners tracking where institutional production deals are moving, Range is the clearest current example of a management-adjacent company successfully converting talent relationships into studio infrastructure. The Paramount deal is Exhibit A in why vertical integration at the management level is a structural threat to traditional producing deals — and why the rep-as-producer debate isn't going away. Watch for a formal announcement once the deal closes. Subscribe to The Option for daily updates on the business behind the business.