Hollywood
Joel Edgerton to play Ramses in Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus’
MUMBAI: Joel Edgerton is in talks to star opposite Christian Bale in Ridley Scott’s Biblical epic Exodus
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The actor, who cemented his in-demand status after a series of high-profile roles including Zero Dark Thirty and The Great Gatsby, would play the Egyptian ruler Ramses in the 20th Century Fox film that is moving toward a September start date. Bale is onboard to portray Moses.
Exodus will shoot in Spain, Morocco and England.
The project had picked up steam earlier this year when Steve Zaillian came aboard as scribe. Adam Cooper and Bill Collage penned a previous draft.
Peter Chernin, who bought the project as a pitch, is producing alongside Scott. Both Chernin and Scott are based at Fox, as is Zaillian and Garrett Basch’s film rights.
Edgerton, whose credits include the critically acclaimed crime drama Animal Kingdom, broke out in Gavin O’Connor’s 2011 MMA drama Warrior. He recently stepped into O’Connor’s Jane Got a Gun opposite Natalie Portman. The Aussie actor also is onboard to star opposite Michael Shannon in Jeff Nichols’ sci-fi film Midnight Special at Warner Bros.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
