Hollywood
‘The Sadhu’ to soon turn in to a Hollywood film
NEW DELHI: The Indian comic book series – The Sadhu – is now being converted into a Hollywood film with producer Mark Canton’s Atmosphere Entertainment teaming up with a Los Angeles-based entertainment company.
Canton will develop the live-action film Warrior: Revenge of The Sadhu — the journey of one man who barters his soul’s deliverance for his family’s honour based on Graphic India’s superhero comic book series.
A Graphic India spokesperson said the story centres on James Jenson, a British soldier whose family is brutally murdered by a corrupt superior officer in the Indian colony of Bengal in 1858. Jenson escapes in the remote forests of India where he seeks refuge with the mysterious Indian mystics – sadhus.
Graphic India co-founders are Sharad Deverajan and Gotham Chopra, son of the new-age author Deepak Chopra.
After years of being trained in their supernatural arts, Jenson must decide whether to use his newfound powers for inner peace and enlightenment as they are intended, or for justice against the people who murdered his family.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Graphic India also co-wrote the screenplay for Warrior: Revenge of The Sadhu based on a new mobile comic series on the character to be launched later this year across India.
Canton’s long list of blockbuster motion pictures include the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300, The Immortals and the recently released 300: Rise of an Empire which opened March 7.
“In the same way Greek myths have captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, the screenplay by Gotham Chopra and Sharad Devarajan for ‘Warrior’ taps into the mystical traditions and mythologies of India through an accessible action-packed adventure that I am confident will make a spectacular blockbuster film and will mark the birth of a new franchise,” Canton said in a press release.
With 300 and Immortals, Mark Canton has produced some of the most successful films in Hollywood based on epic myths and legends.
“We are incredibly honoured that he will now be working with us to take the story of The Sadhu to the big screen,” Deverajan said.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
