Hollywood
Stars commit to ‘Suicide Squad’
MUMBAI: An all-star roster of actors has joined Warner Bros. Pictures’ new action adventure ‘Suicide Squad’, bringing DC Comics’ super villain team to the big screen under the direction of David Ayer (‘Fury’). The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures creative development and worldwide production president Greg Silverman.
The film will star two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, ‘Ali’, upcoming ‘Focus’) as Deadshot; Tom Hardy (‘The Dark Knight Rises’, upcoming ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’) as Rick Flagg; Margot Robbie (‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, upcoming ‘Focus’, the ‘Tarzan’ movie) as Harley Quinn; Oscar winner Jared Leto (‘Dallas Buyers Club’, ‘Alexander’) as the Joker; Jai Courtney (‘Divergent’, upcoming ‘The Water Diviner’) as Boomerang; and Cara Delevingne (‘Anna Karenina’, upcoming ‘Pan’) as Enchantress.
In making the announcement, Silverman said, “The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one. David Ayer returns to the studio where he wrote ‘Training Day’ and brings his incredible ability to craft multidimensional villains to this iconic DC property with a cast of longtime Warner collaborators Will Smith and Tom Hardy, and other new and returning favorites: Margot, Jared, Jai and Cara. We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero.”
Ayer is also writing the script for ‘Suicide Squad’, which is being produced by Charles Roven (‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, upcoming ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’) and Richard Suckle (‘American Hustle’). Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns are serving as executive producers.
The film is slated for release on 5 August 2016.
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.
