Hollywood
Anna Torv and Jennifer Jason Leigh to be a part of HBO’s ‘Open’
MUMBAI: The sexuality drama series Open is being produced by Ryan Murphy. Anna Torv has had a successful stint with Fringe on Fox for five years. Jennifer Jason Leigh will be the on-screen love interest of Torv. The series will explore sexuality in the light of monogamy and intimacy in relationships.
The series starts off with Torv and Leigh in a relationship but the entrance of Grace in Torv’s on screen character’s life, issues crop up between the two. The actor who will play the role of Grace is still under process.
Scott Speedman will be Grace’s gynaecologist husband. Glee’s Dante Di Loreto will be the executive producer for Ryan Murphy Television and 20th Television’s cable arm Fox 21.
Forv is repped by WME and United Management in Australia while Leigh is repped by CAA, Untitled and Sloane Offer. Open would be Murphy’s second project with HBO.
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.
