Hollywood
Sony Pictures signs three-film deal with international producers
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP) has inked a deal with Mexico and Los Angeles-based producers Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman. With this multi-picture development, the producers will write and produce three new feature films with the studio.
The partnership furthers Sony Pictures’ strategy to broaden its global presence and its support of local-language productions.
SPIP EVP – business affairs and operations Laine Kline is of the opinion that it is an ongoing priority for the studio to serve its Spanish-speaking audiences in Latin America and the United States. “Cisneros and Shuman have an exceptional track record for capturing several such important communities and beyond,” said Kline in a statement.
Cisneros is working with the Latin American film industry from some time and was the associate producer on Eugenio Derbez’s Instructions Not Included. He is also the co-creator of the TV comedy series Familia P. Luche and XHDRBZ.
As part of a partnership with Universal TV, he teamed with Aseem Batra to develop a single-camera comedy Don’t Judge Me for ABC. On the other hand, Shuman has produced over 20 films like Role Models, Lone Survivor, Rebel In The Rye, etc.
Cisneros is represented by Valor Entertainment Group, WME, and Ziffren Brittenham whereas Shuman is represented by CAA and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
The two of them started working together in 2014 to become Cisneros & Shuman team. Among many projects they have created are – Fox feature comedy Upgrade and the 20th Television/FBC pilot Star-Crossed.
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.
