Hollywood
Tom Felton’s ‘Against The Sun’ to release on 6 March
MUMBAI: Tom Felton, best known for the character of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, stars in one of the most harrowing true stories of World War II called Against The Sun. The movie is all set to release in India on 6 March, 2015.
Against The Sun is the story of three US Navy Airmen who crash land their torpedo bomber in the South Pacific and find themselves on a tiny life raft, surrounded by open ocean. No food. No water. No hope of rescue.
Against incredible odds, these virtual strangers must survive storms, sharks, starvation and each other as they sail more than a thousand miles to safety.
Felton, who was looking for a challenge after literally growing up in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, said, “It’s a very unique film in that its only three characters and the film stays with these three characters the entire way, there are no set changes or anything like that. That presents a challenge for any actor or filmmaker. Anything that seems challenging right now is a good thing.”
The film also stars Garret Dillahunt, who essays the role of Navy pilot Harold Dixon. “I liked the physical challenge of what it represented. And honestly, it was a little more serious of a diet than I thought. When we spoke, we all thought, well I’ll lose a little bit and then make-up will help us out because we will never be able to get as skinny as those guys really were. But then when I got (to the studio) and there was a nutritionist, I was like ‘oh this is serious – you want us to lose a pound a day’,” said Dillahunt.
The third leg of the trio is played by Jake Abel. “I’ve done a lot of genre work, franchise work and there’s been specific reasons to do those because of the filmmakers and the people involved and I’ve been so wanting something more contained and based in the real world where I’m not having to twist the mustache — and to work with a filmmaker who’s really hungry. And I never want to leave the genre world for good, its treated me so well and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, but I’m very happy for the introduction of period dramas and biopics,” added Abel.
Against The Sun is an Aghor Raj Productions’ Presentation. The company also makes its foray into the field of distribution with this film.
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.
