Hollywood
Tarantino to premiere leaked script with an exclusive stage reading
MUMBAI: Many of the Film Independent, The New York Times Film Club and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) members are geeking out over the news that Film Independent is presenting what’s sure to be one of the most exciting happenings in the film world this year: Quentin Tarantino is going to direct a staged reading of The Hateful Eight for Film Independent at the LACMA!
On Thursday, 24 April at 8:00 pm, the iconic director will show up with a hand-picked cast to LACMA’s Bing Theater for a world premiere reading of the unmade script that’s been causing a ruckus since January, when Tarantino pulled the plug on the picture immediately upon learning that the script had been leaked by someone connected to the small circle of actors he’d circulated it to.
“I like the fact that people like my shit, and that they go out of their way to find it and read it,” an outraged Tarantino told Deadline. This staged reading could be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see something that has never been seen before and probably won’t be seen again. It will not be recorded or live-streamed. Also, the cast is likely to remain secret until they appear on stage that night at the Bing.
The Hateful Eight follows the steadily ratcheting tension that develops after a blizzard diverts a stagecoach from its route, trapping a pitiless and mistrustful group, which includes a competing pair of bounty hunters, a renegade Confederate soldier and a female prisoner in a saloon in the middle of nowhere.
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.
