Hollywood
Kate Winslet steps into war photographer Lee Miller’s world
MUMBAI: Kate Winslet leads the charge in Lee, a stirring biographical war drama that follows the remarkable life of photojournalist Lee Miller. The film arrives in India on 5 December on Lionsgate Play, inviting viewers into the lens of a woman who refused to let history slip by unrecorded.
Set against the turbulence of the second world war, Lee charts Miller’s journey from celebrated fashion model to fearless frontline correspondent. Winslet delivers a commanding performance as the woman whose camera captured some of the twentieth century’s most haunting images. Director Ellen Kuras, best known for her work behind the cinematographer’s eye, brings Miller’s world to life with striking detail, from the artistic pulse of pre war Europe to the grim realities of occupied territories.
As Miller documents devastation, slips into places few women were allowed to enter, and confronts the horrors unfolding around her, the film highlights her unshakeable spirit and unwavering belief in truth. It also ventures beyond the battlefield to explore the woman behind the camera, revealing her relationships, conflicts and the emotional cost of witnessing humanity at its most fragile. One of the film’s most unforgettable moments recreates Miller’s iconic photograph taken in Hitler’s private bathroom, a symbol of defiance as much as documentation.
Speaking about the role, Kate Winslet said she felt instantly connected to Miller. “I’m just so taken by her, how she lived, how she didn’t care what people thought of her or her choices and opinions,” she said. “To be playing someone who I truly admire, adore, look up to and aspire to be even a little bit like is the most enormous privilege. Lee Miller was a truth seeker and a truth teller. She held up a mirror to the horrific faces of evil while being a selfless, defiant observer herself.”
Antony Penrose, Miller’s son, noted the uncanny similarities he observed between his mother and Winslet. He praised the actor’s immersive dedication and her instinctive curiosity, qualities he believes echo Miller’s own relentless pursuit of understanding.
Featuring performances from Alexander Skarsgård, Marion Cotillard, Josh O’Connor, Andrea Riseborough, Noémie Merlant, Samuel Barnett and Andy Samberg, Lee offers a layered portrait of art, war, love and resistance. It is a story that looks directly at darkness yet finds the flickers of humanity that survive within it.
Lee streams exclusively on Lionsgate Play from 5 December.
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.
