Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
Hollywood
New Lord of the Rings film in works with Stephen Colbert co-writing
Late-night host joins Tolkien universe as franchise expands with new story
LOS ANGELES: After more than a decade behind the late-night desk, Stephen Colbert is setting course for Middle-earth. The comedian and long-time The Lord of the Rings superfan has announced he will co-write and develop a new film in the beloved fantasy franchise once his run on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ends in May.
In a video posted on Tuesday, Colbert confirmed that he will begin work on the project following the end of his 11-year stint as host of CBS’s late-night show, marking a clear shift from monologues to Middle-earth.
Colbert shared the update alongside filmmaker Peter Jackson, the director behind the original trilogy that turned Tolkien’s sprawling tale into a global cinematic phenomenon. For Colbert, this is less a career pivot and more a passion project years in the making.
The film, tentatively titled “Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past”, is still in early development, with no director attached yet. Colbert will be joined in the writing process by his son, screenwriter peter mcgee, and Philippa Boyens, who helped shape the original films.
This project marks one of two new entries currently in the works under Warner Bros Discovery and New Line Cinema. The other, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is already in pre-production, signalling a fresh push to expand Tolkien’s cinematic universe.
First published in the mid-1950s, Tolkien’s epic has long held a firm grip on readers and viewers alike. Jackson’s original trilogy alone grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sweeping the Academy Awards, including best picture.
For Colbert, whose love for Tolkien lore is well documented, the move feels almost inevitable. The punchlines may pause, but the storytelling continues, this time with a ring, a quest, and perhaps a few surprises tucked along the way.
