Hollywood
Third ‘Avengers’ movie to be split into two parts
MUMBAI: After creating a buzz with the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, Marvel Studios have announced the third Avengers film with a surprise for the fans; the movie will be broken into two parts.
Named Avengers: Infinity Wars, the first part will release on 4 May 2018 while the final part will hit the theatres on 3 May 2019.
The production house also laid out a nine-film roadmap that starts with Captain America 3: Civil War, which will be released on 6 May 2016 and ends with Avengers: Infinity War part II in 2019. Marvel also announced a slate of new titles, including Thor 3: Ragnarok, which is scheduled for release in 2018, and Inhumans, which is also due to hit cinemas in 2018.
The studio’s first female-led superhero film, Captain Marvel, and a film based on the popular comic book character Black Panther were also announced.
The complete schedule for Marvel studio releases is as follows:
1 May 2015 – Avengers: Age of Ultron
17 July 2015 – Ant-Man
6 May 2016 – Captain America: Civil War
4 November 2016 – Doctor Strange
5 May 2017 – Guardians of the Galaxy 2
28 July 2017 – Thor: Ragnarok
3 November 2017 – Black Panther
4 May 2018 – Avengers: Infinity Gauntlet part I
6 July 2018 – Captain Marvel
2 November 2018 – Inhumans
3 May 2019 – Avengers: Infinity War part II
The second installment of the Avengers franchise, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, follows the first one, which grossed $1.52 billion worldwide after its May 2012 debut.
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.
