Hollywood
Denzel Washington’s next a Broadway: A Raisin in the Sun
MUMBAI: Renowned actor Denzel Washington has got another big credit in his kitty. This time he will be seen opposite Diahann Carroll in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. The play was originally done by Lorraine Hansberry 55 years ago.
Previews will be seen from 8 March 2014 and the opening night will be 3 April next year at the Barrymore Theatre, where the original production started half a century ago. The play is based on the various dreams and conflicts between three generations. Washington will be playing the second generation son and father.
Directed by Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun will only be on for 14 weeks. Washington has previously worked on several big flicks such as The Preacher’s Wife, Malcolm X, The Hurricane and is currently going to be seen in 2 Guns with Mark Walberg. Apart from acting, he has also indulged in directing and producing movies. He has also got Equalizer waiting to be released next year. He has also won a Best Actor Academy Award for Training day.
Others who are part of the cast are Stephen Tyrone Williams, Jason Dirden, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Washington has won several accolades in his more than two decades of acting career.
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.
