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Paramount's 'Star Trek' Guy Gets Canned

Studio fires John Lesher, Brad Weston

It looks like one of the people who helped bring 2009's biggest movie (so far) to the big screen is scanning the classifieds for a new job.

Paramount Pictures chief executive officer Brad Grey has fired studio film group president John Lesher and production president Brad Weston Friday, shaking up the executive staff of the studio despite some of Paramount's recent success.

But the two aren't completely gone, according to The Hollywood Reporter, as both will continue working through production deals with Paramount. It wasn't clear why Grey decided to clean house.

Weston was originally co-president of production for Paramount before getting promoted. His biggest film of his career, apparently, was "Star Trek," which has now earned $234.7 million in the domestic box office, but is expected to be surpassed by the Disney/Pixar movie "Up" this time next week.

Lesher is being replaced by Adam Goodman, the former production president at DreamWorks prior to its departure from Paramount last year.

Paramount has had a pretty good year otherwise. Including the massive take from "Star Trek" helping to restart that franchise, Paramount has earned $744.8 million at the domestic box office this year, according to Box Office Mojo through June 18, behind the $860.2 million grossed by Warner Bros. so far. Paramount finished 2008 with $1.57 billion, once again behind Warner Bros., which earned $1.77 billion.

Paramount last led the studio box office in 2007 when it grossed $1.5 billion compared to Warner Bros.' $1.4 billion.

About the Author

Michael Hinman is the founder and editor-in-chief for Airlock Alpha and the entire GenreNexus. He owns Nexus Media Group Inc., the parent corporation of the GenreNexus and is a veteran print journalist. He lives in Tampa, Fla.
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