Hollywood
The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes advance bookings open from 15 November
Mumbai: Get ready to enter the arena ‘in advance’ – that’s right, Lionsgate and PVR Pictures have opened advance bookings for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes for fans across the country who wish to watch the film ahead of the official release. Fans can book their tickets from 15 November – we say, don’t miss the first day, first show on 17 November. It’s time to unleash your inner victor and step into the arena.. may the odds be ever in your favour.
This fifth film is a prequel to the rest of the films and marks the longest film in The Hunger Games franchise. It follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), the last hope for the once-proud Snow family, whose failing lineage has spelled a fall from grace in a postwar Capitol. Reluctantly accepting the assignment to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) for the 10th Annual Hunger Games, he finds the odds stacked against him. An opportunity to turn the tides with Lucy’s captivating charm forces him to battle his instincts for both good and evil. As Snow sets out on a race against time to survive, find out whether he will ultimately become a songbird…or a snake.
Recent social media reactions to the film have earned impressive reactions worldwide, predicting the film to have a grand opening weekend.
Hollywood
Disney unifies streaming, film, TV and games under Dana Walden
Debra O’Connell to chair Disney Entertainment Television in new setup
LOS ANGELES: The Walt Disney Company is pressing play on a more tightly woven future. As audiences hop between cinema screens, streaming apps and game worlds, the media giant is stitching its storytelling arms into one coordinated machine under Dana Walden.
Set to take charge as president and chief creative officer on March 18, Walden will oversee a newly unified Disney Entertainment structure that brings together streaming, film, television and the company’s fast-expanding games and digital business. She will report directly to incoming chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro.
The thinking is simple. Whether viewers are watching on Disney+, heading to the cinema or diving into a game, Disney wants the experience to feel like chapters of the same story. Walden summed it up as strengthening the emotional thread between Disney’s characters and its audiences, wherever they choose to engage.
The leadership reshuffle reads like a carefully cast ensemble. Alan Bergman continues as chairman of Disney Entertainment, studios, steering film production, marketing and distribution while sharing oversight of direct to consumer.
Streaming gets a dual command. Joe Earley and Adam Smith step in as co-presidents of direct to consumer, jointly handling strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu. Earley will also guide content strategy, while Smith retains his role as chief product and technology officer across Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
A new chair enters the frame with Debra O’Connell taking on the role of chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. She will oversee an expansive slate that includes ABC Entertainment, National Geographic and Hulu Originals, while continuing to supervise ABC News and owned stations.
Gaming, once a side quest, is now a central storyline. Sean Shoptaw, executive vice president, games and digital entertainment, moves into the Disney Entertainment fold. His remit includes partnerships such as the collaboration with Epic Games, aimed at building a Disney universe linked to Fortnite.
Elsewhere, John Landgraf remains chairman of FX, reporting to Walden, while Asad Ayaz continues as chief marketing and brand officer, reporting to both D’Amaro and Walden.
The message behind the reshuffle is clear. Disney is no longer thinking in silos of screens but in stories that travel. And with Walden at the creative helm, the company is betting that a single, seamless narrative can keep audiences hooked, whether they are watching, scrolling or playing.
