Hollywood
PVR INOX celebrate Oppenheimer release with Nolan Film Festival and other exciting initiatives
Mumbai: Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker who has created a name for himself by delivering intricate and captivating blockbusters such as Tenet and The Dark Knight Rises. His latest biographical war drama, Oppenheimer, is set to release on 21 July 2023, and there is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in India. Oppenheimer features Hollywood’s finest actors, including Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh. The film holds a special place in the hearts of Indians as Oppenheimer was an ardent follower of the Bhagavad Gita. After the first successful atomic test during his research, he famously quoted from the scripture, “Now, I become Death, the destroyer of worlds,” a line that is also featured in the film.
PVR INOX is celebrating the release of Nolan’s masterpiece by kicking off The Nolan Film Festival from today, 17 July till Thursday, 20 July 2023. During this four-day event, PVR INOX will showcase some of Nolan’s biggest hits, such as Interstellar, Dunkirk, Inception, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, for the audience to enjoy. The Film Festival will pan-out across 45 cinemas in 20 cities of India.
PVR INOX has also rolled out a series of exciting consumer initiatives to celebrate the release of Oppenheimer. Patrons who catch Oppenheimer on IMAX screens between 21 July and 1 Aug will stand a chance to win a swatch of Nolan 70 MM Reel by playing an online Oppenheimer trivia game accessible by scanning the code on the screens. Additionally, those who book their IMAX tickets on the PVR app can access the special and limited Director’s Preferred seats, known for their immersive movie-watching experience. Friday, 21 July, will also be Oppenheimer Day at PVR INOX, and the film will be playing for a full 24 hours on the IMAX auditoriums of PVR ICON Phoenix Palladium at Lower Parel, INOX Megaplex at Inorbit Mall and INOX R City in Mumbai, so that fans can enjoy the movie anytime they want on the first day! The cinema chain has put digital countdown timers at seven of its cinemas across the country, which has already become popular among the Oppenheimer fans.
In a first of its kind initiative, PVR INOX deputed renowned film critic and former RJ Sucharita Tyagi to interview the entire cast of Oppenheimer at New York. The series of interviews, featuring director Nolan, and actors Cillian Murphy, Emily Hunt and Matt Damon is posted on PVR’s YouTube channel. Exciting snippets, highlighting exclusive insights and anecdotes from the celebrated talent, will be used by PVR INOX on its social media platforms for promoting the film.
Speaking on the release of Oppenheimer and the surrounding initiatives, PVR INOX Ltd. co-CEO Gautam Dutta said, “Christopher Nolan’s films are highly appreciated and enjoyed among Indian audiences, so it was only fair to bring them to the Nolan Film Festival. We are confident people will love this four-day affair of his best works like The Dark Knight Rises (I&II) and Dunkirk. A film like Oppenheimer is best watched on IMAX screens for the vibrant and immersive experience, which only gets better at a certain angle: the director’s preferred seats. We have laid out a series of other initiatives around the release to ensure that the build-up to the film is as exciting as the film itself. Judging by the high buzz around this film and Nolan’s track record, we expect Oppenheimer to be yet another megahit.”
Oppenheimer delves into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American physicist known as the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb.’ He famously created the first atomic bomb and other nuclear weapons during WWII. The film depicts how one man’s genius and ambition radically altered the nature of war, resulting in the mass annihilation of millions of people and the ensuing public hysteria. We witness Oppenheimer’s reaction and struggle to cope with the reality of his creation, which has the potential to wipe out humanity in minutes.
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.
