Hollywood
‘Begin Again’ trailer 2 features music by ‘Maroon 5’ Adam Levine
MUMBAI: The Weinstein Company recently released a new trailer for its upcoming musical romantic comedy, Begin Again. The second trailer features a new song by the film’s actor and music producer Adam Levine called “Lost Stars”.
The latest film from writer-director John Carney (Once), Begin Again is a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together. Gretta and her long-time boyfriend Dave are college sweethearts and song-writing partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left to fend for herself. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan, a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.
Begin Again is written and directed by Academy Award winner John Carney (Once) and produced by Anthony Bregman, Tobin Armbrust and Judd Apatow. The film stars Golden Globe Award nominee Keira Knightly (Atonement) as Gretta, with Grammy Award winner Adam Levine (lead vocalist of Maroon 5) as Dave and Screen Actors’ Guild Award nominee Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are Alright) as Dan. Begin Again also stars Grammy Award winner Cee Lo Green, BAFTA Award winner James Corden (Gavin & Stacey), Golden Globe award nominee Mos Def (Something the Lord Made), Academy Award nominee Hailey Steinfeld (True Grit) and Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich).
With the soundtrack of Begin Again scheduled to release on 1 July, Adam Levine’s own record label, 222 Records will debut its first soundtrack compilation.
Watch the musical trailer below:
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.
