Hollywood
Transformers’ Optimus Prime in India
MUMBAI: Transformers is back this year with Transformers – Age of Extinction, an amalgamation of drama, emotions and high octane action. Star lined with Mark Wahlberg, who plays the role of a single dad raising his daughter – Nicola Peltz, the movie is directed by Michael Bay.
Aiming to bring viewers a step closer to their favourite hero – Optimus Prime, the makers have made a whopping 12-foot high statue that weighs about 300kg. Warrior, fearless and righteous – Optimus Prime is the ultimate leader of the Autobots who are constantly raging wars against a rival faction of robots called the Decepticons.
Under a special license from Hasbro (American multinational that is one of the largest toy makers in the world), this figurine is made to exact design specifications. The viewing experience of this complex figurine has been enhanced by intricate lighting. Encased in a special package, a dedicated container has been hired to transport the robot locally around India. Optimus Prime will tour six cities, starting with Pune and eventually making his way to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
In a bid to capitalise on this diehard devotion that fans have for Optimus Prime, Viacom18 Motion Pictures has initiated a digital contest across social media. According to this, fans will be asked three simple questions, with the winners getting an opportunity to click a selfie with the mammoth figurine in their city. Not only this, the winners will also attend an exclusive fan screening to watch the film before the rest of the world.
Elaborating on the same, Viacom18 Motion Pictures VP- marketing Rudrarup Dutta said, “Optimus Prime symbolises the spirit of the Transformers as their leader and is worshipped as a hero by the ever growing Transformers fan base. This massive figurine is our way to bring Optimus Prime alive for his fans who will be able to greet him and as part of the campaign, get a once in a lifetime opportunity to click a ‘Selfie with Optimus’. Establishing the sheer magnitude and scale of this edition of Transformers, the initiative therefore aims at building an on ground connect in a unique and engaging manner with the fans.”
Distributed by Viacom18 Motion Pictures in India, Transformers: Age of Extinction will be released on 27 June 2014.
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.
