Hollywood
Ben Affleck reveals the first look of ‘Gone Girl’
It was around this time two years ago that we saw the release of David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and while we haven’t seen a feature film from him since, the drought will end in 2014.
The director is currently in the midst of crafting an adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s acclaimed novel Gone Girl, and while the film will be released late next year, the studio, 20th Century Fox has unveiled a first look at the movie via their official twitter account.
Being adapted by Flynn herself – making her screen writing debut – the thriller centers on the relationship between Nick and Amy, a married couple who have hit a rough patch. Moving to a small town in Missouri from New York after Nick loses his job, Amy is miserable away from the big city, but things become scary when she disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. To make things even worse, Nick is the prime suspect and there is plenty of evidence against him. Ben Affleck stars as Nick, while Rosamund Pike is playing Amy.
The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle, Tyler Perry, Patrig Fugit, Casey Wilson, Scott McNairy, Kim Dickens and Emily Ratajkowski. Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea, along with Leslie Dixon, are producing the movie.
Hollywood
Disney unifies streaming, film, TV and games under Dana Walden
Debra O’Connell to chair Disney Entertainment Television in new setup
LOS ANGELES: The Walt Disney Company is pressing play on a more tightly woven future. As audiences hop between cinema screens, streaming apps and game worlds, the media giant is stitching its storytelling arms into one coordinated machine under Dana Walden.
Set to take charge as president and chief creative officer on March 18, Walden will oversee a newly unified Disney Entertainment structure that brings together streaming, film, television and the company’s fast-expanding games and digital business. She will report directly to incoming chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro.
The thinking is simple. Whether viewers are watching on Disney+, heading to the cinema or diving into a game, Disney wants the experience to feel like chapters of the same story. Walden summed it up as strengthening the emotional thread between Disney’s characters and its audiences, wherever they choose to engage.
The leadership reshuffle reads like a carefully cast ensemble. Alan Bergman continues as chairman of Disney Entertainment, studios, steering film production, marketing and distribution while sharing oversight of direct to consumer.
Streaming gets a dual command. Joe Earley and Adam Smith step in as co-presidents of direct to consumer, jointly handling strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu. Earley will also guide content strategy, while Smith retains his role as chief product and technology officer across Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
A new chair enters the frame with Debra O’Connell taking on the role of chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. She will oversee an expansive slate that includes ABC Entertainment, National Geographic and Hulu Originals, while continuing to supervise ABC News and owned stations.
Gaming, once a side quest, is now a central storyline. Sean Shoptaw, executive vice president, games and digital entertainment, moves into the Disney Entertainment fold. His remit includes partnerships such as the collaboration with Epic Games, aimed at building a Disney universe linked to Fortnite.
Elsewhere, John Landgraf remains chairman of FX, reporting to Walden, while Asad Ayaz continues as chief marketing and brand officer, reporting to both D’Amaro and Walden.
The message behind the reshuffle is clear. Disney is no longer thinking in silos of screens but in stories that travel. And with Walden at the creative helm, the company is betting that a single, seamless narrative can keep audiences hooked, whether they are watching, scrolling or playing.
