Hindi
Lionsgate acquires rights for Oliver Stone’s film on George Bush
MUMBAI: Independent film studio Lionsgate has acquired the US distribution rights from QED International to W, a biopic about President George W. Bush directed by Oscar winner Oliver Stone Platoon.
Lionsgate will also distribute W in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The announcement was made by Lionsgate president of Theatrical Films Tom Ortenberg.
W will star Josh Brolin No Country For Old Men as George W. Bush, Elizabeth Banks Seabiscuit as Laura Bush, James Cromwell The Queen as George Herbert Walker Bush, Ellen Burstyn Requiem For A Dream as Barbara Bush, Thandie Newton Crash as Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright Syriana as Colin Powell, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, and Ioan Gruffud as former UK PM Tony Blair.
W begins production today in Louisiana. Lionsgate is releasing the film on 17 October, 2008. Stone says, “The impact of George W. Bush‘s presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don‘t really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we‘ve been allowed to see on TV. This movie‘s taking a bold stab at looking behind that curtain. I‘m real pleased that Lionsgate has the independence necessary to bring this provocative story to an American audience.”
The studio adds that whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. W will take viewers through Bush‘s eventful life — his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush‘s decision to invade Iraq.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
