Hollywood
Marvel’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ promo features Neeraj Chopra
Mumbai: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is featured in the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s promotional teaser. He has joined the fight for Wakanda to unleash the true essence of being a warrior and fighting for one’s country. Embodying the very spirit of the celebrated Wakandan superhero, Neeraj Chopra’s journey from his humble beginnings to achieving the coveted Olympic gold has truly been inspiring and nothing short of extraordinary!
The promotional video shows Neeraj Chopra dropping from a high-tech portal opening in the roof, landing on his feet and clenching his javelin tight. He then picks up the pace, gathering momentum to throw the javelin. When he does aim it, the javelin flies, transitioning into a spear and piercing the surface of a road. From here, the video seamlessly connects to the hair-raising trailer of Wakanda Forever. A background voice can be heard saying “dikha denge unhe ke hum kaun hai” in the promo.
Speaking on how Black Panther has been inspirational for him to associate with, Neeraj Chopra said, “Black Panther is about a fierce warrior, a hero who is willing to give everything to fight for his people and his country. As an athlete, representing India is our biggest opportunity, and we give our best shot and fight till the end. I’m truly overjoyed that I can be a part of this journey, and just like Black Panther, I hope to inspire people around the globe to never give up on their dreams. Being a huge Marvel fan, I just cannot wait to watch the film and discover the new journey of Wakanda!”
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.
