Hollywood
RIP Paul Walker: An ironic death
MUMBAI: Alanis Morissette’s Ironic took another meaning as the news of death of Fast & Furious franchise’s actor Paul Walker spread.
The actor who was the integral part of the franchise was killed in a car accident on Saturday on his way to a charity event. Walker, 40, was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend, who also died in the crash.
A statement on the actor’s official Facebook page said that Walker was a passenger in the car, and had been at a charity event for his organisation, Reach Out Worldwide earlier in the day.
As people got over the shock, condolences started pouring in. His co-star, Vin Diesel posted on Instagram: “Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace.”
Similarly, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson tweeted: “All my strength, love & faith to the Walker family during this heart-breaking time. We find our strength…in his light. Love you brother.”
The pair was joined by a number of stars and fans paying tribute to Paul, who is survived by his 15-year-old daughter.
However, one cannot get over the fact that the machine which made him famous, also took his life.
Hollywood
US Justice Department probes Warner Bros sale impact on cinemas: Report
Theatre chains called in to discuss potential effect of Netflix or Paramount deals
NEW YORK: The US Justice Department has summoned some of the country’s largest cinema chains to private talks about the possible sale of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a Bloomberg report. Government antitrust lawyers are seeking information on how a sale could affect film releases and the wider movie-going public.
Bloomberg reports that, sources familiar with the meetings said officials are exploring whether a sale could shrink the number of films hitting theatres or shift the balance in the streaming versus cinema tug-of-war.
The review is focused on the potential impact of a sale to either Netflix or Paramount Skydance. While Netflix has a history of releasing only a limited number of films in select theatres for short runs, Paramount Skydance could face heavy debt if it succeeds, possibly limiting its film production.
The meetings come after Warner Bros recently rejected Paramount Skydance’s hostile $30-a-share bid, while giving the rival studio seven days to submit a best and final offer that would top the existing Netflix agreement. Paramount acknowledged the offer but called Warner Bros’ board actions unusual.
Warner Bros is moving forward with a vote on Netflix’s offer for its streaming and studio businesses on March 20. If approved, the merger would follow a spin-off of Warner Bros’ Discovery Global cable operations, including CNN, TLC, Food Network and HGTV, into a separate publicly traded company.
For cinema-goers, the question remains whether Hollywood’s boardroom battles will shrink the number of films on the big screen or just shuffle the popcorn seats.
