Hollywood
Sony Pix to premiere ‘American Hustle’
MUMBAI: Sony Pix will be premiering American Hustle, a black comedy crime movie for the first time on Indian television. The movie is inspired by the real life story of FBI ABSCAM operation and will air on 26 December at 9 pm.
The movie is presented by Moto 360 in association with Adidas and Van Heusen.
Directed by David O Russell, the movie highlights the scandals of 1970s and portrays the story of a con man named Irving Rosenfeld played by Christian Bale, who along with his partner Sydney Prosser played by Amy Adams, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent named Richie DiMaso played by Bradley Cooper.
DiMaso pushes them into the world of the Jersey powerbrokers and the mafia that is as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner plays Carmine Polito, the political operator caught between the con-artists and the Feds. Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn played by Jennifer Lawrence, could be identified as the one to bring the entire world crashing down like a delicate pack of cards.
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.
