By mliss1578 Radhamely de Leon
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone say Paramount’s upcoming merger with Skydance is to blame for Season 27’s two-week delay.
The new season was set to premiere on Comedy Central Wednesday, July 9, but has since been delayed until Wednesday, July 23. A reason was not provided by the network, but the series creators offered their own explanation in a statement shared on social media.
“In response to the press release from Comedy Central about the change in premiere date for ‘South Park,’ Trey Parker & Matt Stone said – This merger is a shitshow and it’s fucking up South Park,” the statement reads. “We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.”
This delay comes after Parker and Stone accused Jeff Shell of interfering in streaming negotiations with Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery and trying to “benefit Paramount at the expense” of their entertainment company, Park County, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount still has the digital rights to South Park for two more years, according to THR.
Shell is poised to become president of Paramount after the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance closes. Since the merger is not yet closed, Park County’s attorneys say Shell “had no right or authority to be demanding that SPDS’s prospective counterparties make modifications to their proposals, especially modifications that would depress the value of their proposals,” per The Wrap.
“We hereby demand that you, Redbird, and Skydance immediately cease your interference,” the letter reads. “If these activities continue, we will have no choice but to act to both protect our rights and discharge any obligations we may have to the public.”
A statement from Redbird and Skydance denied any wrongdoing.
“Under the terms of the transaction agreement Skydance has the right to approve material contracts,” the companies said in a statement to THR.
South Park Season 27 will now premiere Wednesday, July 23, on Comedy Central at 10 p.m.