Hollywood
Four Hollywood stalwarts take over Sin City in the comedy Last Vegas
MUMBAI: Multivision Multimedia, one of the biggest independent film distribution houses in the Indian subcontinent, is gearing up to release the new comic caper Last Vegas in Indian theatres on 22 November, 2013. The upcoming comedy will see Hollywood legends Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline share screen space for the very first time.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub, Last Vegas follows the lives of Billy (Michael Douglas), Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline), who have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realise that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. Sin City has had its own coming-of-age but it’s these guys who are taking over Vegas, and how! What follows is a comedy packed with laughs, wit and a heart-rending perspective on friendship.
Speaking on releasing Last Vegas in India, Multivision Multimedia distribution head Sunil Udhani said, “Last Vegas brings together Hollywood royalty in form of Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline for this sure-shot entertainer. With talent that has a combined six Oscar win and films that have grossed nearly $16 billion at the box office, we are confident that this movie will take Indian fans on a laughter-inducing joy ride.”
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.
