Hollywood
Gerard Butler may star in ‘Point Break’ remake
MUMBAI: Gerard Butler is in negotiations to star in a remake of the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze action thriller, Point Break directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Released in 1991, the film got a worldwide cult following in DVD and Blu-Ray releases.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the movie is looking at a summer shoot with Ericson Core, the cinematographer behind 2001’s The Fast & the Furious and Daredevil as the director. For the remake, Kurt Wimmer (Salt, Total Recall) wrote the screenplay which revolves around the international world of extreme sports. The original film had the Southern California surf scene as the main theme. However, the storyline about an FBI agent infiltrating a crime ring as well as the names of the principle characters remains the same.
If the film is finalised, Butler will play Bodhi, an expert extreme-sports athlete who seeks nirvana through the conquest of a series of athletic feats such as surfing 100-foot waves, reports THR.
However, for the time being the actor will next be seen in Liongate’s epic fantasy Gods of Egypt, which starts shooting in March. Later in the year, he will be seen in London Is Falling, the sequel to his action hit Olympus Has Fallen.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
