From an interview with Sumner Redstone, leader of CBS and Viacom/Paramount.
Brad Pitt’s Plan B company, which made World War Z for Paramount, is leaving for New Regency. Does that concern you?
Well, people have a right to go where they want. But I think Paramount is the best studio in the world. And Brad [Grey] is the best studio leader in the world, in my opinion. I hired him!
Is it true David Geffen encouraged you to hire Grey and then encouraged you to un-hire him?
I had no discussions that I recall with David Geffen. I don’t need anyone’s advice, like David’s, about hiring Brad [Grey]. Brad is great. He was great with [management company Brillstein-Grey]. But he [might make] less money running the studio. He wanted to be a studio head.
So, when there’s studio politics, like the fact that Plan B didn’t make 12 Years a Slave for Paramount and the film is now a leading Oscar contender, do you care?
Of course I care. I care about everything that affects the studio or any part of Viacom/CBS. Anyone is entitled to go where they want. A lot of people favor Paramount. Those who do are the ones who are right.