Hollywood
‘Serena’ finally gets a release date
MUMBAI: Two years after finishing pre-production, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence starrer Serena is finally gearing up for an early 2015 release.
According to media reports, Magnolia Pictures took US distribution rights to the film this week, more than two years after production wrapped up in the Czech Republic. The movie was produced by their sister company 2929 Entertainment.
The movie was filmed back in 2012 before either of Lawrence and Cooper’s other collaborations, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, were released.
Serena is a depression-era-set drama about newlyweds running a timber business. The pair will play married couple Serena and George Pemberton, who run a powerful timber empire in the North Carolina Mountains in the 1920s.
The movie’s narrative revolves around the emotional turmoil resulting after Lawrence’s titular character discovers she is unable to bear children and takes her anger out on her husband’s illegitimate son.
In US, the movie will first hit VOD on 26 February 2015 which will be followed by a theatrical release on 27 March 2015. But overseas, Serena will premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 13 October2014. The movie will then be released on 24 October 2014 in UK and will begin rolling out internationally afterwards.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
