Hollywood
Spider-Verse portal opens at Gateway of India
Mumbai: Hold on to your spider webs, because something incredible happened in the city of Mumbai! ‘Spider-Man’ himself was spotted swinging through the city’s most iconic Gateway Of India, and the buzz is real!
Sony Pictures Entertainment India, in anticipation of the highly awaited movie ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ decided to give Mumbaikars an adventure they won’t forget. It all started with a quirky post that shook up on Instagram wherein the brand cautioned the netizens about some unusual sightings in the city.
This mind-bending post unleashed a wave of excitement among netizens, who began sharing their mind-blowing encounters with the Spider-Verse. From Pter (T-Rex) to Spider-Horse, Spider-Punk to Spider-Woman, various incarnations of Spider-Man crawled out from the shadows and made their presence felt around the iconic Gateway Of India. It was a sight to behold!
But that’s not all! The Spidey fever spread like wildfire, capturing the attention of influencers and meme pages across the city. They couldn’t resist joining the web-slinging fun and shared their own extraordinary encounters with ‘Spider-Man.’ From photobombs to epic selfies, these influencers and memers made sure their followers didn’t miss a beat!
Not only this, but the brands also joined the conversation by putting out some quirky comments and communication.
In an organic whirlwind of excitement, this exhilarating experience brought the viewers closer to the action, using the power of social media to create an immersive Spider-Verse experience. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is set to be an absolute blockbuster, blending the iconic web-slinger with an awe-inspiring multiverse storyline. Thus, the brand along with its agency SoCheers (an independently led digital advertising agency) is leaving no stone unturned for making its audiences feel its cinematic masterpiece.
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.
