Hollywood
‘World War Z’ director to helm ‘The Amazing Spiderman’ spin-off ‘Sinister Six’
MUMBAI: Back In December, Sony hired Drew Goddard to pen the script for the spin-off of the blockbuster film franchise, which will focus on the villains in Spider-Man’s world. Also hired in December were Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Ed Solomon to work on another spinoff, titled Venom, centred on the black-costumed villain that already made his big-screen debut in the third Spider-Man movie of the Sam Raimi trilogy.
When Goddard was tapped to write the script for Sinister Six, there was the possibility that he also could direct. Those plans seem to be falling into place, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
The Sinister Six has had several permutations in the comics but originally featured Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Vulture and Kraven the Hunter. Octopus already appeared in Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, while Sandman was the villain (along with Venom) in Spider-Man 3. Electro (Jamie Foxx), the Rhino (Paul Giamatti) and the Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) are the villains in Amazing Spider-Man 2.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, starring Andrew Garfield will hit Indian theatres 1 May, before its US release a day later. Kurtzman and Orci, who did rewrites for Spider-Man 2, are already working on a third instalment of Amazing Spider-Man.
Goddard, wrote and made his directorial debut with the 2012 horror film The Cabin in the Woods, and will write and executive producer Netflix’s Daredevil.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
