Hollywood
Brad Pitt & Paramount get the last laugh as ‘World War Z’ cracks $500 mn
MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures reports that World War Z had passed the $500 million worldwide gross mark,
surpassing Troy’s $497.3 million to become Brad Pitt’s highest grossing film ever. One could argue that WWZ
received the benefit of a higher ticket price particularly because of its 3D numbers. But considering how badly
maligned this film was in the weeks before it bowed, hitting the half billion dollar plateau seems something to
brag about, even for a movie that cost in the $220 million range.
According to Paramount (which co-financed with Skydance), WWZ has set several records for Pitt, whose Plan B
produced. It set a personal best with a $66 million opening on 21 June, and a total of $197.4 million in US, both
of which exceeded Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s total domestic gross of $186.3 million and $50.3 million opening
weekend. The film has earned $305.2 million at the international box office, to date.
This pales in comparison to the numbers put up by Johnny Depp and his Alice in Wonderland and Pirates of the
Caribbean franchises, but Pitt has done a lot of cool movies that were never meant to be blockbusters, and this
was his most mainstream film since Troy and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Passing the half billion dollar mark begs the
question of whether Pitt returns for an encore.
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.
