Is South Park saying goodbye? Inside the creators’ fight with the studio

Season 27 of South Park is set to arrive later this month. But one thing that could affect the future of the series about the colorful Colorado town created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone is in a sticky spot, a contract renewal that is currently pending due to the upcoming merger between Paramount Global and Skydance.

According to information from The Hollywood Reporter, a contract renewal for South Park to continue is in the spotlight. The deal, which would extend the series for 10 years and give Parker and Stone $3 billion, would extend the current contract that expires in 2027. However, in light of the impending merger between the two companies, Skydance maintains that it has “approval rights on contracts as it pursues regulatory approval,” seeking that the next contract extensions will only be for 5 years.

“There is no resolution at this time, but all involved recognize the need for a quick, positive resolution,” a spokesperson for Park County said on Monday. Skydance and Paramount declined to comment. Meanwhile, THR received from Skydance the following statement: “under the terms of the transaction agreement, Skydance has the right to approve material contracts.”

Season 27 is delayed and there could be legal consequences.

Unfortunately, the failure to resolve this contract has led to South Park season 27 being delayed by two weeks and possibly, triggering court action. “This merger is a shitshow and it’s fucking up South Park. We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow,’” Parker and Stone wrote in a social media post on July 2.

As of July 2024, the proposed merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global was announced, in a deal valued at $8 billion. The transaction is expected to be approved on October 5, but unfortunately, as has happened with other acquisitions in the entertainment world, the process is lengthy and has faced many waiting points. The transaction remains under review by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as of July 2025.

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