Hollywood
‘Expendables 3’ gets newcomer Glen Powell on board
MUMBAI: After getting some big names, a newcomer has joined the cast which already includes Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas. Powell will be playing a lead role. He will be playing a highly trained combat veteran, an expert hacker and a drone pilot.
Bruce Willis, who was in the first two movies had been struck off the cast list after demanding a higher price for his role. He had asked for $4 million as compared to $3 million that had been offered to him for a four day shoot.
Lionsgate has come up with a release date of 15 August 2014. Stallone will return as Barney Ross, who takes the team on yet another high octane mission. Patrick Hughes is directing. Screenplay is done by Stallone and Richard Wenk.
Jackie Chan and Nicholas Cage are also said to have small appearances. Powell has worked in The Dark Knight Rises and upcoming Red Wing. He is repped by Resolution and Untitled.
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.
