Hollywood
First trailer of Bradley Cooper starring ‘American Sniper’ Released
MUMBAI: Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, the first trailer for the war drama American Sniper was released on 3 October.
The actor stars as real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper, who served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and was heavily decorated for his service, has taken credit for 160 confirmed kills. The drama is based on the 2013 memoir of Chris Kyle, who was regarded as ‘the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.’
Kyle, whose book was a best-seller, was shot and killed at a Texas gun range in February 2013. He was 38 years old.
The official synopsis of the movie says, “From director Clint Eastwood comes “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter. U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname ‘Legend’. However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to ‘leave no man behind’. But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.”
Co-starring Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman, Luke Grimes, Navid Negahan and Keir O’Donnell, American Sniper opens in limited release on Christmas Day and goes wide on 16 January 2015. The movie has been produced by Cooper.
The trailer highlights the precarious balance Kyle faces as he balances his military duties with his home life.
Click here to watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbAXWfthtA
The movie is slated to release on Christmas this year.
Cooper, who voiced Rocket Racoon in the summer blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, has received past Academy Award nominations for Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
