Hollywood
Saban acquires North American distribution rights to the Nicolas Cage starrer ‘The Trust’
NEW DELHI: The crime thriller starring Nicolas Cage, The Trust, is to be distributed in North America by Saban Capital Group, as per a deal finalised at the American Film Market.
SCG chairman and CEO Haim Saban said the film is co-written by Ben Brewer and Adam Hirsch and will be directed by Ben and Alex Brewer. The Trust is currently in pre-production with lensing in Las Vegas, NV.
The Trust centers on two crooked cops who discover a hidden safe, the contents of which will lead them down a deadly road of corruption. With each shocking twist, and every deadly turn, the pair are left to fight for their lives, with no one left to trust.
“The script for The Trust was incredibly captivating and tells such a riveting story,” said Saban president Bill Bromiley. “Audiences everywhere will love Nicolas Cage in this role and it’s a great addition to the Saban Films portfolio.”
Bromiley and Ness Saban negotiated on behalf of Saban Films and Highland Film Group (HFG) on behalf of the producers. Molly Hassell and Braxton Pope are producing. The Trust is a Hassell Free Production in association with Electric Shadow Fund who is providing finance. Mike Nilon will be the executive producer along with HFG’s Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier. Highland Film Group is handling the worldwide sales for the film.
Saban Films’ first acquisition, The Homesman, starring Academy Award winners Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank was screened at the upcoming Festival which is part of AFM. The film will be released stateside with Roadside Attractions on 14 November.
Saban Films recently acquired the US rights to John Travolta’s The Forger, the action thriller Tracers starring Taylor Lautner and Marie Avgeropoulos from Temple Hill Entertainment and American Heist starring Hayden Christensen, Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody, Jordana Brewster, Tory Kittles and Aliaune “AKON” Thiam.
Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group is a film acquisition and distribution company which acquires high-quality, feature films to distribute in North America. Based in Los Angeles, Saban Films was established by Haim Saban, SCG chairman and chief executive officer, and is led by Bill Bromiley who serves as president, Shanan Becker, chief financial officer and Ness Saban, director of business development.
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.
