Ryan Reynolds & Ferris Bueller Spin-Off Axed by Paramount

Paramount Pictures is cleaning house fast under its new leadership, and some well-known projects have already been sent to the chopping block. CEO David Ellison, who has been rubbing elbows with figures inside the Trump administration, is determined to reshape the company’s movie lineup and who it’s meant to serve. The studio is betting on safer franchises like Transformers and Star Trek, while more creative, riskier films are disappearing.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount recently canceled several high-profile projects. Among them was Victor and Sam’s Day Off, a planned spin-off of the classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Another was an untitled science-fiction movie directed by Colin Trevorrow and produced by Ryan Reynolds, which was set in the 1980s and tied to Area 51. It’s unclear if Reynolds planned to star, but cutting a project from the Deadpool star and the Jurassic World director signals a major shift. The canceled Victor and Sam’s Day Off was first announced in 2022 by Paramount+ and followed the two valets who famously took Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari for a spin in the original film.

The studio’s film casualties don’t end there. The Hollywood Reporter also noted that Eloise, an adaptation of the Kay Thompson children’s stories with Reynolds involved as a producer, was quietly sold to Netflix. Miles Teller’s romantic sports movie Winter Games has also been dropped, showing no signs of life at Paramount. The studio says it still plans to release about fifteen films a year, but the company’s steady stream of cancellations hasn’t helped morale behind the scenes.

Instead of mid-budget originals, Paramount is throwing its weight behind its biggest franchises. A live-action reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is moving forward, and reports suggest early discussions about a third Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film even before the second one arrives in 2027. The studio is also pushing kid-focused brands harder, with a Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off movie planned not long after the fourth main installment hits theaters.

Paramount isn’t ignoring older audiences either. The long-delayed Rush Hour 4 has suddenly jumped back into development, reportedly after encouragement from Donald Trump. The project has caused a stir since Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are expected to return, but controversial director Brett Ratner—who was accused of sexual misconduct—has also been brought back to helm the movie. Paramount doesn’t seem bothered that Ratner hasn’t directed a feature since 2014’s Hercules. The film has no set release date or confirmed cast deals yet, so it remains a lofty promise rather than a done deal.

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