Hollywood
Jennifer Lawrence plays punching pranks on ‘X Men Days of Future Past’ co-stars
MUMBAI: Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence who reprises her role as the blue-skinned, shape-shifting mutant Mystique in X Men Days of Future Past releasing on 23 May has several highly physical fight scenes in the movie, and during promoting the movie, she admitted that fists were flying off-camera as well.
The X Men Days of Future Past actor revealed that she was the on-set ringleader of the “circle game” — a schoolyard prank where you hold your thumb and index finger in a circle somewhere below your waist and if you can trick someone into looking down at it you get to punch them in the arm.
Lawrence says, “I actually brought it to X-Men Days of Future Past from Hunger Games. We play it obsessively, and I brought it to these guys. They really liked it. And I am the best, thank you for asking.”
Well the X men beaten by an X Woman!
Hollywood
Paramount Skydance secures financing for Warner Bros Discovery deal
Debt syndication and new loans push $111 billion merger closer to close
WASHINGTON: Paramount Skydance has taken a major step towards its planned acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, securing fresh financing and completing the syndication of its bridge loan facility.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company confirmed that the bridge facility has now been distributed among a group of 18 banks, reducing total commitments to $49 billion from an earlier $54 billion. The move spreads risk across lenders and signals growing confidence in one of the year’s largest media deals.
Alongside this, the company has finalised permanent financing arrangements, including $5 billion in senior term loans and a $5 billion revolving credit facility. A previously planned $3.5 billion credit line has been dropped as part of the restructuring.
The loans are secured against key assets, including Paramount Global, Skydance Media and Warner Bros post-merger, underlining the scale and complexity of the transaction.
The financing push follows a competitive bidding process earlier this year, which saw interest from players such as Netflix before Paramount Skydance emerged as the frontrunner. The deal, valued at $111 billion, is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to regulatory approvals.
Adding to the momentum, the company has also secured significant equity backing, including investments from Middle Eastern funds, with support from billionaire Larry Ellison, who has guaranteed the equity portion of the transaction.
Commenting on the development, Paramount Skydance chief strategy officer Andy Gordon said, “Our successful debt syndication and new debt facilities represent another important milestone towards the completion of our acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.”
Once completed, the combined entity is expected to carry net debt of just under $80 billion, reflecting the sheer scale of the merger.
As Hollywood continues to consolidate in the streaming era, this deal could reshape the competitive landscape, with Paramount Skydance betting big on scale, content and financial muscle to take on global rivals.
