Hollywood
Release of ‘Fast and Furious 7’ postponed until April, 2015
MUMBAI: Vin Diesel, the star of the Fast & the Furious film series has announced a final release date for the last installment of the famous movie franchise.
The untimely death of Paul Walker not only shocked fans all over the world, but it halted the final stretch in making the 7th installment of Fast and the Furious. As a tribute to Walker’s life, the makers decided to finish the film, and his co-star Vin Diesel has announced on his Facebook page that the movie will be released in April in 2015.
“The last scene we filmed together…There was a unique sense of completion, of pride we shared… in the film we were now completing… the magic captured… and, in just how far we’ve come… Fast and Furious 7 will be released…April 10th 2015!” wrote Diesel with a photo showing him alongside Walker.
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Diesel concluded the post saying “P.s. He’d want you to know first.”
Universal Pictures has confirmed the April 10 release date with E! News, and mentioned that 60 per cent of the film has been already shot before Walker’s death.
The famous actor died in a fatal car accident on November 30 in East Los Angeles. Walker was on the passenger seat of a Porsche Carrera GT driven by friend, Roger Rodas, who also died in the scene. According to investigators leading the case, there was no mechanical issue involved in the accident, and that it was a result of solely too much speed.
Immediately after Walker’s death, Universal released a statement saying that they will stop all movements in relation to the filming of Fast & Furious 7, to pay respect to the friends and relatives of the late actor, as well as to give support to the crew and filmmakers.
However, the studio did say that “all options available to move forward with the franchise,” according to a report by E! Online. There are no final statements or press releases regarding on how the film will unravel its plot without its main character, Brian O’Connor, played by the late Paul Walker.
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.
