Hollywood
Andy ‘Gollum’ Serkis of LOTR fame to helm ‘Jungle Book’ for Warner Bros
MUMBAI: Andy Serkis, the quirky actor, best known for portraying the role of the infamous creature ‘Gollum’ in the Lord of the Rings films has been roped in to direct Warner Bros’ live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling much loved classic, Jungle Book.
Before Serkis, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel) and Ron Howard (Rush) were attached to the project, but the former stepped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Warner Bros faces tough competition with this venture, since Disney also has a live-action Jungle Book adaptation already in the casting stage.
Warner Bros’ Jungle Book marks the directorial debut for the critically acclaimed actor. Serkis previously worked with Peter Jackson on The Hobbit films in the Second Unit Direction team. Jackson entrusted Serkis with the job after he developed a command of CG technology through his acting prowess not only in the Lord of the Rings films, but also in Jackson’s King Kong, Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin and the new Planet of the Apes movies.
Jungle Book tells the story of a boy is raised by wolves in the Indian Jungle with the help of Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther and then has to fight the tiger Shere Khan.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
