Hollywood
Dev Patel to star in ‘Lion’ with Nicole Kidman
MUMBAI: The Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel has been finalised to star with Nicole Kidman in the new The Weinstein Company drama Lion.
The drama, based on the memoir ‘A Long Way Home’ by Saroo Brierley, follows a street kid from Calcutta (Patel) who is taken in and adopted by a couple in Australia.
Garth Davis, who co-directed the Golden Globe-winning miniseries ‘Top of the Lake’ with Jane Campion, is set to helm the movie while Luke Davies, the screenwriter on Anton Corbijn’s upcoming Life, adapted the book for the screen.
In addition to Lion, Patel plays self-taught Indian math genius Srinivasa Ramanujan in Matt Brown’s period drama The Man Who Knew Infinity. He will also star in Lionsgate’s Soviet-era thriller Child 44 and The Road Within, a remake of the hit German dramedy Vincent Wants to Sea.
Patel also appears in John Madden’s upcoming The Second Best Marigold Hotel, the sequel to the 2011 hit, which Fox Searchlight will release in the US next year.
It was earlier believed that Hugh Jackman would also star in the film, but as per media reports, the actor has denied any connection to the project.
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.
