Michael De Luca has decided not to accept a position as the number two person at Paramount Pictures, TheWrap has learned.
De Luca had been offered a job overseeing Paramount’s film division under prospective studio boss Jim Gianopulos, who stepped down as chair of Fox’s film division late last year. Paramount has been courting Gianopulos to replace former studio boss Brad Grey, who stepped down last month after 12 years at the helm.
De Luca is currently a producer at Universal, where he oversees the highly-profitable “Fifty Shades” franchise. He also produced this year’s Academy Awards, alongside Jennifer Todd.
Representatives for Paramount, Viacom, Universal and De Luca did not respond to a request for comment.
In rejecting the offer, De Luca was not offered any type of sweetener to stay at Universal, according to an individual with knowledge of the deal. An individual close to De Luca said he was “flattered” by the interest, but decided to remain in his comfortable situation at Universal.
Paramount is currently being run by a committee of department heads under the supervision of Viacom CEO Bob Bakish. The committee includes Motion Picture President Marc Evans, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing President Megan Colligan, Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert and the studio’s digital and TV head Amy Powell.
The studio is also said to have heavy-handed guidance from Viacom CFO Wade Davis, who now splits his time between New York and Los Angeles at the behest of Bakish.