Hollywood
Justin Timberlake to write original music for DreamWorks’ ‘Trolls’
MUMBAI: Nine-time Grammy and four-time Emmy Award winning musician and actor Justin Timberlake will serve as executive music producer as well as pen original music for DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls. In this role, Timberlake will oversee all creative direction for the film’s music as well as perform multiple songs on the soundtrack. The multifaceted artist also stars as Branch, a hilariously hardcore survivalist who hides his surprising true colors, in DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming comedy.
Joined by Academy and Tony Award nominee Anna Kendrick as Princess Poppy, the two embark on a hair-raising adventure as the globally iconic Trolls make their motion picture debut. The film will be distributed on 4 November, 2016, by 20th Century Fox.
“Justin is an amazingly versatile artist and producer whose unprecedented creative talents provide a unique voice and sound for our movie.Trolls is a comedy with fantastic music at its core and we can’t think of a more perfect artist to elevate this soundtrack to incredible heights,” said DreamWorks Animation co-presidents of feature animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria.
“Working with Justin has been a dream come true from day one,” added director Mike Mitchell.
“Between the fantastic work he’s doing in bringing to life the character of Branch and his production oversight on the soundtrack, we couldn’t be in more inspired hands,” said co-director Walt Dohrn.
“I have always envisioned bringing the two worlds of film and music together for one epic event. I couldn’t be more excited that they will collide in DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls. This film is very special, the music is going to be very special and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it all,” said Timberlake.
Produced by Gina Shay, the film for the first time tells the story behind the beloved Trolls and their gravity defying and colourful manes.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
