Hollywood
Indian Navy watches Tom Hanks Captain Phillips
MUMBAI: Captain Phillips, the movie that has taken the world by storm, has even caught the attention of the Indian Navy now. At a special request, Sony Pictures organised a special screening for the Indian naval officers, including the Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Shekhar Sinha in Mumbai on the official India release date of 18 October.
With very few movies being made on this very relevant and current subject, the theme of Captain Phillips seems to have found a connection with the officers as it deals with the hijack of a container ship and the kidnapping of its captain by Somali pirates. Captain Phillips is based on real life story of Captain Richard Phillips who was held captive by four Somali Pirates in 2009.
Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks plays the role of Richard Phillips in the movie. The movie which was recognised as one of the best movies of 2013 by Rolling Stone magazine is directed by Paul Greengrass.
Sony Pictures India MD Kercy Daruwala said, “An extensive local word-of-mouth programme for the film has built excitement for this film. We are confident that the film is a commercial entertainer as well as a critical success and are expecting great things for this film in In
Commander- in- Chief, Western Command – Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha commented on the film saying, “Captain Phillips is an amazing movie. The film is a realistic portrayal of a hostage situation. Captain Richard Phillips’ character played by Tom Hanks is also very inspiring.”
Captain Phillips recounts the true-life ordeal of Richard Phillips, the captain of a US-flagged cargo ship, the MV Maersk Alabama, sailing with a 20-man crew and 17,000 metric tons of cargo that was bound for Kenya in April 2009 when it was abducted by Somali pirates. The movie is already being pronounced as Oscar-worthy (especially for Tom Hanks’ portrayal) and received a standing ovation at the New York Film Festival recently.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
