iWorld
Kevin Mayer leaves Disney to become TikTok CEO
MUMBAI: Walt Disney Company’s top executive Kevin Mayer has resigned to take up the top executive job at short-video app TikTok, which has seen its popularity soaring during the Covid2019 pandemic.
According to a New York Times report, the 58-year-old will also serve as chief operating officer of ByteDance, the Chinese parent company that owns TikTok.
“I was happy with my job at Disney, The magnitude of this opportunity was just something I couldn’t pass up,” Mayer told New York Times over phone
Mayer has worked on services like Disney Plus, which has been a phenomenal hit with around 55 million subscribers, and the prominent OTT in India Hotstar.
According to him, gaming and music are two possibilities for expansion.
After having overseen the direct-to-consumer and global division for the two years, he had served as Disney’s chief strategy officer. Mayer joined Disney way back in 1993. He left the company in 2000 and joined Playboy.com. Later he returned to Disney and started working on Go.com, which later bit the dust.
Rebecca Campbell has been named as Mayer’s successor.
That soaring popularity of the TikTok, an immense feat for a Chinese company, has not gone down well with many government agencies in the US. In fact, the military has prevented its workers from downloading or using TikTok. Recently, a Republican senator even proposed a law to bar federal employees from using it.
In the first quarter of 20202, TikTok’s has been downloaded 307 million times, more than any other app in the world, as per Sensor Tower data.
Follow Tellychakkar for the consumer facing news & entertainment
iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
