Hollywood
Writers of ‘Game of Thrones’ decide on next film project
MUMBAI: Writers of the HBO Original series Game of Thrones, which yet again surpassed its viewership and garnered record ratings, have taken on their first feature project since becoming the architects of the HBO series adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s bestselling fantasy series, which will open its fourth season this Sunday on HBO Defined.
According to Deadline, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have made a deal with Fox to write, direct and produce Dirty White Boys, the 1995 novel, written by Stephen Hunter, who also wrote Point Of Impact, the novel that was turned into the Mark Wahlberg film Shooter.
Benioff and Weiss have had to dedicate their entire attention to the series because of the creative demands that came with writing and producing the ambitious signature HBO series Game of Thrones (GoT). This is the first project that they will helm together and the first since they began the GoT journey. They said it all started while they were shooting the breeze with a bunch of writer pals.
Dirty White Boys follows Lamar Pye, who has escaped from Oklahoma State Penitentiary, accompanied by his idiot cousin and a vicious but cowardly artist. To have stayed in prison was certain death, but his chances on the outside are not much greater: his excesses know no bounds – one killing follows another.
Benioff and Weiss are currently in postproduction on the remainder of Season 4 of GoT.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
