Hollywood
Sony bags the rights to Facebook COO Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures has confirmed that it has acquired the rights to make the Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book into a movie.
Published in March 2013, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead encourages women to advance their careers. If the film is able to capture the essence of the book, it won’t be so much a biography of Sandberg, who recently became one of the youngest female billionaires ever, as a manifesto advising women on how to achieve professional success.
Sandberg also launched an organisation, Lean In, to further promote her message. She will donate her proceeds from the film to the foundation, according to Deadline,
which reported the story earlier.
While there were few specifics available about the movie or the deal, Deadline said Sony Pictures, which made The Social Network about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg – tapped Nell Scovell to write the script. Scovell helped Sandberg write the book as well.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
