Hollywood
‘Call of Duty’ video game writer to pen ‘M:I 5’
MUMBAI: According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Tom Cruise Productions have tapped video game writer Will Staples (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3) to work on the script for the fifth Mission: Impossible film.
Academy Award winner Christopher McQuarrie is attached to direct the film, which will see the return of Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Drew Pearce, who wrote Iron Man 3, was the previous writer attached, but that was before McQuarrie signed on.
Staples’ previous work has been mostly in video games. He worked on Need for Speed: Rivals. He’s attached to several films in development, including Blood & Treasure, a starring and directing medium for Ben Affleck set up at Warner Bros. He also wrote Myth for Fox and the Jeremy Renner starrer King of Heists.
Tom Cruise Productions, Paramount and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot are producing Mission: Impossible 5. The previous Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, released in December 2011, reinvigorated the franchise, grossing an outstanding $694.7 million worldwide.
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.
