Ex-Paramount Domestic Distribution Chief Seeks Over $4 Million in Breach of Contract Lawsuit

Chris Aronson, formerly the President of Paramount Pictures Domestic Theatrical Distribution, is suing David Ellison for breach of contract, seeking more than $4 million in damages. Aronson claims he was terminated from the company in March 2026, just three months after agreeing to a new fixed-term contract that would have extended his employment through December 2028.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Paramount attempted to rewrite his contract, shorting him over $1.3 million and avoiding full payment after his termination without cause. Additionally, Aronson alleges that older employees were terminated at "disproportionately higher rates" and that his replacement by a younger executive is part of a broader pattern of age-based targeting and discriminatory motive. Aronson seeks a jury trial and over $4 million in damages, with Paramount yet to comment.