Hollywood
IM Global to launch Justin Bieber doc Believe from Never Say Never helmer
MUMBAI: Gearing up for Toronto, IM Global chief Stuart Ford says the company is “engineering its usual full-on assault on the marketplace.” Ford is currently in Venice in support of Ti West’s The Sacrament and Steven Knight’s Tom Hardy-starrer Locke.
Both of those films are part of an abundant Toronto slate that’s spread across the outfit’s different labels. Among the brand new movies on the lineup are Justin Bieber’s Believe, which will screen for select buyers in Toronto. Jon M. Chu, who helmed hit concert film Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never, directed Believe in what was an under the radar operation.
IM Global’s wide release label Opus is handling worldwide sales and Open Road is releasing domestically. The documentary mixes in concert footage to trace Bieber’s path to becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
Also new is Bachelorette director Leslye Headland’s Sleeping With Other People. Kirsten Dunst, who starred in Bachelorette, will topline the follow-up, joined by Jason Sudeikis. The movie is in pre-production. IM Global genre label Octane is handling.
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.
