David Ellison Backing Bipartisan Federal Film Tax Incentive

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has been quietly backing a bill to launch a federal film tax incentive, with lawmaker support on both sides of the aisle, multiple sources told Variety.

Ellison has spent at least six months in exploratory meetings for the proposed legislation, two sources added, and on Monday evening was present in Washington D.C. to break bread with top Republican leadership where the matter will be discussed.

Names of politicians from both parties involved in the bill were not immediately available. More than one source noted the irony of Ellison’s Monday night meeting occurring the same day that a group of state attorney generals filed suit to block the mogul’s acquisition of Warner Bros. (his general counsel Makan Delrahim is at his side in D.C.)

A federal film tax incentive would provide significant financial relief to content producers fleeing the U.S. for rebates around the world. A federal program would also sweeten the deal in Hollywood’s home state of California, whose AG Rob Bonta is leading the charge on the searing antitrust lawsuit waged today against Ellison over Warner Bros.