Inkhabar webdesk

Dec 1 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery has received a second round of bids, including a mostly cash offer from Netflix, in an auction that could conclude in the coming days or weeks, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Bankers for Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix worked over the weekend on improved offers for all or part of Warner Bros, the source added. The bids are binding, giving the board scope to approve a deal quickly if terms are met, though they have not been described as final, the person said. Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development. Last week, Warner Bros asked bidders to submit improved offers by December 1 after receiving preliminary buyout bids from Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board had rejected Paramount's mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion, and publicly announced it would evaluate strategic options for the studio. The parent of HBO and CNN in October said it was exploring its options for sale. Any potential deal involving Warner Bros Discovery would further consolidate the media industry after the $8.4 billion merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, which capped a drawn-out process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. The studio behind the "Harry Potter" and DC Comics film franchises announced plans in June to split into studio-centric and cable-focused units by next year to separate its growing streaming business from its lagging cable network unit. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan SHANGHAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Disney's Zootopia 2 became the highest-grossing animated foreign film ever in China, despite generally muted interest in overseas movies in the country. As of Monday morning Beijing time, box office tracker Maoyan showed Zootopia 2's local box office tally reaching 1.95 billion yuan ($275.6 million) in its first six days of release. "It is Disney's most important movie in China this year, for sure," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of China digital consultancy Chozan, with its themes of personal resilience and societal harmony resonating with local audiences. Its runaway success in China – where Zootopia 2 sales accounted for around 95% of all movie ticket sales over its opening weekend – is particularly notable given the changing environment for foreign films in China over the nine years since the first Zootopia film was released. The original Zootopia also became China's most popular foreign animated film when it was released in 2016. Hollywood films were caught up earlier this year in the China-U.S. trade war. Beijing curbed the number of U.S. films that were allowed to be shown in China in retaliation for higher tariffs on Chinese goods – a move analysts said would only have a limited impact, given the waning influence of foreign films in China. AN EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE Hollywood studios once looked to China, the world's second-largest film market, to help boost their box office performances. But domestic movies increasingly have outperformed Hollywood fare in China. Earlier this year, local animation "Ne Zha 2" eclipsed Pixar's "Inside Out 2" to become the world's highest-grossing animated film of all time after raking in nearly $2 billion at the Chinese box office. Even so, Disney seemed confident that Zootopia 2 would find a significant audience in China, with Chief Executive Bob Iger travelling to Shanghai for a local premiere a fortnight ago. In addition, Disney partnered with China Eastern Airlines on a Zootopia 2-themed plane.  And the Shanghai Disneyland resort is home to the world's only Zootopia-themed land, which opened in 2023 to capitalise on local affection for the original film. "Disney is heavily reliant on huge blockbuster releases, which in turn become IP and monetise through experiences, merchandise and other areas," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore, adding that in spite of geopolitical tensions and an uncertain macroeconomic environment, China remains a "massive and expanding market for its theme parks, movies and merchandise." According to Chris Fenton, author of "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, and American Business," a potential downside of Zootopia 2's success could be the false hope it might give Hollywood studios that China could be rekindling a love affair with foreign films.  "Beijing doesn't view Hollywood as a solution to restrained consumer spending [in China], so I wouldn't read into this being a pivot on Beijing's part," he said. "Beijing knows if Hollywood sees some continued promise in their market, filmmakers will continue to kowtow to Beijing's storytelling requirements." ($1 = 7.0750 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan in Shanghai)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Former French movie star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot is currently recovering and wants to reassure those concerned about her health not to worry, Bardot's foundation said in a statement. This followed recent media reports that Bardot, 91, was again hospitalised in Toulon, southern France, last month, following an earlier spell in hospital in October for surgery that her office described at the time as minor. "In response to the spread of false information in recent days, Ms Brigitte Bardot would like to remind everyone that she is currently recovering, that she would appreciate it if people would respect her privacy, and invites everyone to calm down," the statement said. "Ms Bardot wishes to reassure those who are genuinely concerned about her. She sends them this message: 'I send my love to you all.'" Bardot became world famous in the fifties and sixties for her free-spirited performances in movies such as "And God Created Woman". As a singer, she also released several records during that time. She stopped acting in the seventies, permanently moved to the French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez, and dedicated herself to the animal welfare cause through a foundation in her name. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Toby Chopra)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan SHANGHAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Disney's Zootopia 2 became the highest-grossing animated foreign film ever in China, despite generally muted interest in overseas movies in the country. As of Monday morning Beijing time, box office tracker Maoyan showed Zootopia 2's local box office tally reaching 1.95 billion yuan ($275.6 million) in its first six days of release. "It is Disney's most important movie in China this year, for sure," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of China digital consultancy Chozan, with its themes of personal resilience and societal harmony resonating with local audiences. Its runaway success in China – where Zootopia 2 sales accounted for around 95% of all movie ticket sales over its opening weekend – is particularly notable given the changing environment for foreign films in China over the nine years since the first Zootopia film was released. The original Zootopia also became China's most popular foreign animated film when it was released in 2016. Hollywood films were caught up earlier this year in the China-U.S. trade war. Beijing curbed the number of U.S. films that were allowed to be shown in China in retaliation for higher tariffs on Chinese goods – a move analysts said would only have a limited impact, given the waning influence of foreign films in China. AN EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE Hollywood studios once looked to China, the world's second-largest film market, to help boost their box office performances. But domestic movies increasingly have outperformed Hollywood fare in China. Earlier this year, local animation "Ne Zha 2" eclipsed Pixar's "Inside Out 2" to become the world's highest-grossing animated film of all time after raking in nearly $2 billion at the Chinese box office. Even so, Disney seemed confident that Zootopia 2 would find a significant audience in China, with Chief Executive Bob Iger travelling to Shanghai for a local premiere a fortnight ago. In addition, Disney partnered with China Eastern Airlines on a Zootopia 2-themed plane.  And the Shanghai Disneyland resort is home to the world's only Zootopia-themed land, which opened in 2023 to capitalise on local affection for the original film. "Disney is heavily reliant on huge blockbuster releases, which in turn become IP and monetise through experiences, merchandise and other areas," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore, adding that in spite of geopolitical tensions and an uncertain macroeconomic environment, China remains a "massive and expanding market for its theme parks, movies and merchandise." According to Chris Fenton, author of "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, and American Business," a potential downside of Zootopia 2's success could be the false hope it might give Hollywood studios that China could be rekindling a love affair with foreign films.  "Beijing doesn't view Hollywood as a solution to restrained consumer spending [in China], so I wouldn't read into this being a pivot on Beijing's part," he said. "Beijing knows if Hollywood sees some continued promise in their market, filmmakers will continue to kowtow to Beijing's storytelling requirements." ($1 = 7.0750 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan in Shanghai)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)