Hollywood
Actress Abigail Breslin signs publishing debut with Harper Collins
MUMBAI: Award winning actress Abigail Breslin, best known to millions for her Academy Award-nominated breakthrough role in Little Miss Sunshine, has solidified herself over the years as one of the rising stars of young Hollywood. Breslin will soon be making her publishing debut with her book called This May Sound Crazy, which will be published by HarperCollins.
She will also be seen in her upcoming television debut role on Fox’s highly anticipated Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens, has multiple films on the horizon, and a solo album titled The World Now scheduled for release 15 June, 2015.
Written with Breslin’s wit and honesty, This May Sound Crazy is full of cautionary tales and clever advice ranging from why you should stop stalking your ex to how to survive your very own Halloween horror story. In this collection of nonfiction essays, Breslin brings her hilarious and heartfelt voice to the page as she explores the things nearest and dearest to every teen—love, loss, and Tumblr.
“I started my tumblr Mixtapes and Winter Coats because I wanted to share my late night ramblings and feels, such as talking to my cat at 2 am, with all of you. That blog evolved into my book, This May Sound Crazy. I hope when you read it, you’ll see that you are not alone even when you’re wondering when it’s ok to text your crush first, which is the most terrifying situation ever,” says Breslin.
“I’m so thrilled to be working with Abigail Breslin on This May Sound Crazy. She channels the angst of her generation with a fearlessness that’s at once hilarious and deeply moving. Anyone who’s ever had a broken heart or felt lost or who just wished for a perfect Christmas Day will feel instantly understood in these pages,” adds HarperCollins executive editor Dave Linker.
World rights for This May Sound Crazy were sold to Linker from CAA and will be published in October 2015.
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.
