Hollywood
Third ‘Avengers’ movie to be split into two parts
MUMBAI: After creating a buzz with the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, Marvel Studios have announced the third Avengers film with a surprise for the fans; the movie will be broken into two parts.
Named Avengers: Infinity Wars, the first part will release on 4 May 2018 while the final part will hit the theatres on 3 May 2019.
The production house also laid out a nine-film roadmap that starts with Captain America 3: Civil War, which will be released on 6 May 2016 and ends with Avengers: Infinity War part II in 2019. Marvel also announced a slate of new titles, including Thor 3: Ragnarok, which is scheduled for release in 2018, and Inhumans, which is also due to hit cinemas in 2018.
The studio’s first female-led superhero film, Captain Marvel, and a film based on the popular comic book character Black Panther were also announced.
The complete schedule for Marvel studio releases is as follows:
1 May 2015 – Avengers: Age of Ultron
17 July 2015 – Ant-Man
6 May 2016 – Captain America: Civil War
4 November 2016 – Doctor Strange
5 May 2017 – Guardians of the Galaxy 2
28 July 2017 – Thor: Ragnarok
3 November 2017 – Black Panther
4 May 2018 – Avengers: Infinity Gauntlet part I
6 July 2018 – Captain Marvel
2 November 2018 – Inhumans
3 May 2019 – Avengers: Infinity War part II
The second installment of the Avengers franchise, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, follows the first one, which grossed $1.52 billion worldwide after its May 2012 debut.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
