Hollywood
Madame Tussauds to unveil five wax figures of Jimmy Fallon
MUMBAI: Madame Tussauds will unveil five new, never-before-seen wax figures of TV host Jimmy Fallon.
Fallon, who hosts NBC’s The Tonight Show, will join Merlin Entertainments at their New York attraction for the special launch. The event will take place at Madame Tussauds New York in Times Square and will mark Fallon’s one year anniversary behind The Tonight Show desk.
For the first time in history, Madame Tussauds will unveil not one, but five, unique wax figures of a single celebrity. Fallon’s figures will be housed in Madame Tussauds U.S. locations spanning the country: New York, Washington DC, Hollywood and San Francisco. His fifth figure will be featured in the newest Madame Tussauds U.S. location in Orlando when it opens on 4 May, 2015.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jimmy Fallon to five of our U.S. Madame Tussauds attractions, including our newest Orlando attraction opening in May this year. Jimmy is beloved by fans across the world and we look forward to offering so many of our visitors the opportunity to engage with such an entertainment icon,” said Merlin Entertainments Group divisional director, Midway North America Janine DiGioacchino.
“I’m honestly floored! These artists did an amazing job. I guess I’ll have to stop with the plastic surgery for at least a few years so these figures stay relevant,” said Fallon.
Dressed in his classic yet laid back style, each figure was meticulously made by Madame Tussauds studio artists over the course of four months. Fallon worked closely with the Madame Tussauds team, who spent hours sitting with the star taking over 250 measurements, identifying exact eye color, and detailing each strand of hair.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
