Hollywood
Game of Thrones actress cast in Hunger Games final films
MUMBAI: Gwendoline Christie, best known for her role as the tough warrior Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones, has been roped in to play another military leader role.
The actress, best known for her towering height, will play Commander Lyme in the final two installments of The Hunger Games film series; The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 & 2. She’s replacing Lily Rabe, who was originally cast in the role.
Rabe had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict with a previous commitment to Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare in the Park. The fourth film in the hit teen franchise is currently filming back-to-back with Mockingjay – Part 1.
Lyme is one of the leaders of District 13, the district in the futuristic Panem that is rebelling against the government. She hails from District 2 and is a past victor of an unknown Hunger Games.
Mockingjay – Part 1, the third of four films based on Suzanne Collins’ popular teen novels, will hit US theaters in November this year. Mockingjay – Part 2 will follow one year later again in November.
Along with starring on the fantasy hit series Game of Thrones, Christie’s was last seen in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
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.
