Hollywood
Focus sets Ryan Reynolds sci-fi thriller Selfless for winter 2015
As part of the October deal that saw FilmDistrict being absorbed into Focus Features, the latter has taken over distribution of two more titles and announced a new release date for one of them.
The sci-fi thriller Selfless, starring Ryan Reynolds, originally had been set for September 2014 but now will see day of light on 27 February 2015. It centers on a terminally ill billionaire who buys a chance for eternal life through an experimental underground medical procedure. Focus also will handle the Zac Efron flick That Awkward Moment, which was retitled from Are We Officially Dating? a few months ago. Its release date remains 31 January. Focus said last month that it will release the former FilmDistrict title Insidious: Chapter 3 in April 2015.
Hollywood
Trump explodes at Netflix, demands Susan Rice ouster as $83B merger hangs in the balance
Fiery ultimatum shakes streaming giant as politics collides with blockbuster Warner deal
NEW YORK: Donald Trump has called on Netflix to dismiss former UN Ambassador and board member Susan Rice immediately. His ultimatum arrives as the streaming company seeks to finalise an $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming platforms.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Rice as a “political hack.” He warned the company to remove her or “pay the consequences,” though he did not specify what those repercussions might be. He dismissed her professional standing, stating, “She’s got no talent or skills – Purely a political hack! HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK.” He concluded his post by questioning her compensation and the value she brings to the company.
The friction appears toa be rooted in Rice’s recent comments during an interview on Preet Bharara’s “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast. During the discussion, Rice suggested that a Democratic victory in the midterm elections would bring an “accountability agenda” for corporations that she believes bypassed regulations during the Trump administration. She stated that if these corporations think the Democrats will “play by the old rules” or forgive them for policies and principles violated, “I think they’ve got another thing coming.”
The scale of the $83 billion acquisition would represent a monumental shift in the media landscape, bringing together assets such as CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros. Studios under the Netflix umbrella. While the political rhetoric intensifies, Netflix has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding president’s statements or the future of Rice’s position on its board. Industry analysts are now watching closely to see if these political tensions will influence the regulatory approval process required for such a significant merger.
