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(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked potential buyers to submit improved offers by December 1, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The parent of HBO and CNN last month said it was exploring its options for sale. Since then, it has received preliminary buyout bids from rivals Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. After reviewing any improved offers, Warner Bros may enter a period of exclusive discussions with one of the bidders, the sources said. Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Netflix and Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development earlier on Tuesday. Paramount is expected to bid for all of Warner Bros Discovery, including its cable television networks. Paramount's bid is backed by the studio's controlling shareholder, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is among the world's richest men. The potential combination would enhance Paramount's presence in movie theaters, giving it a 32% share of the North American theatrical market, according to Comscore, and strengthen its streaming service by combining HBO Max with Paramount+. 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. The deal had capped a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board 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. Warner Bros Discovery's stock has soared 83% since Paramount's intention to bid for the media company was reported in September. The stock closed at $22.96 on Tuesday. The media giant previously announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies, separating its studios and streaming business from its fading cable networks. (Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

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By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, Disney’s animated buddy cop comedy, “Zootopia 2,” has a healthy message about the importance of confiding in others for emotional support. Quan, who voices Gary De'Snake — a pit viper determined to help his family — told Reuters, “I grew up in a very traditional Chinese family and was taught to really internalize a lot of my feelings and not share them.” However, the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor added that it’s unhealthy to keep emotions bottled up. For him, the sequel creates an avenue for people to explore the importance of sharing their experiences to foster empathy. “Zootopia 2” continues the story of the highly acclaimed 2016 film “Zootopia,” which follows rookie police officer rabbit Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and the con artist fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, as the unlikely pair team up to investigate the disappearance of predator animals. The sequel picks up where the first film left off, quickly sending Judy and Nick on their latest adventure to uncover the truth surrounding the new reptilian character, Gary De'Snake. The second installment is co-directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, who also worked on the first film. The voice cast includes actor Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, the Zootopia police chief, singer Shakira as the pop star gazelle named Gazelle, and newcomers Patrick Warburton as Mayor Brian Winddancer, a stallion, and Fortune Feimster as the beaver named Nibbles Maplestick. In “Zootopia 2,” Judy, the overachieving bunny, and Nick, the laidback fox, must come to terms with their differences to become a stronger team. For Bateman, the core of what the movie is conveying is that “differences can be a plus” for those who have the courage and curiosity to be with someone unlike themselves. Echoing Bateman, Howard felt that Judy and Nick needed to show both the pros and cons of a new professional partnership. “Nick and Judy needed to be at the center of this film,” he said. “There are new things to get used to. There’s different baggage that you’re each carrying from your upbringing,” he added. Mirroring his own real-life collaboration with others to create the film, Howard said that “each of us has superpowers.” However, several characters do have to be vulnerable to communicate their needs before coming together, which is something that Feimster thought was timely for the audiences who watch the film. “I think we should be entering into a time where it’s considered a positive thing to say how you feel and to be more in touch with your feelings because, why not? The antithesis of that is so much pent up aggression,” the comedian said. "Zootopia 2" arrives in theaters on Wednesday. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross)

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(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked potential buyers to submit improved offers by December 1, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The parent of HBO and CNN last month said it was exploring its options for sale. Since then, it has received preliminary buyout bids from rivals Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. After reviewing any improved offers, Warner Bros may enter a period of exclusive negotiations with one of the companies, Bloomberg News reported. Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Netflix and Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Paramount is expected to bid for all of Warner Bros Discovery, including its cable television networks. Paramount's bid is backed by the studio's controlling shareholder, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is among the world's richest men. The potential combination would enhance Paramount's presence in movie theaters, giving it a 32% share of the North American theatrical market, according to Comscore, and strengthen its streaming service by combining HBO Max with Paramount+. 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. The deal had capped a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board 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. Warner Bros Discovery's stock has soared 83% since Paramount's intention to bid for the media company was reported in September. The stock closed at $22.96 on Tuesday. The media giant previously announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies, separating its studios and streaming business from its fading cable networks. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

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

(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked for improved offers from potential buyers by December 1, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

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

(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked for improved offers from potential buyers by December 1, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

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

(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked potential buyers to submit improved offers by December 1, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The parent of HBO and CNN last month said it was exploring its options for sale. Since then, it has received preliminary buyout bids from rivals Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. After reviewing any improved offers, Warner Bros may enter a period of exclusive negotiations with one of the companies, Bloomberg News reported. Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Netflix and Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

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

LONDON (Reuters) -From Will Ferrell's "Elf" costume to "Star Wars" props, an array of movie memorabilia spanning cinematic history heads to auction next month.     More than 1,350 lots, valued at a combined estimate of 8 million pounds ($10.54 million), are on offer in Propstore's Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction taking place December 5-7. Leading the sale is Boba Fett's EE-3 carbine rifle from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", with an estimate of 350,000 pounds – 700,000 pounds.     "It only came in to us about a year ago and we spent a number of weeks going through it, almost to a forensic level and managed to screen match the wood grain on the stock – there's some damage and distress on it – and realise that this was and is the one and only Boba Fett blaster that was used in 'Empire Strikes Back'," Propstore founder and CEO Stephen Lane said at a press preview on Tuesday. Other lots from the franchise include a rebel pilot helmet from the same film and a Stormtrooper E-11 imperial blaster from "Return of the Jedi". "Indiana Jones" is also represented in the sale with a brown fedora made for the titular character, played by Harrison Ford, in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" on offer. Costumes include Ferrell's green tunic from Christmas movie "Elf", and Spider-Man's black symbiote suit from "Spider-Man 3" in which Tobey Maguire played the superhero. Other lots include Marty McFly's hoverboard from the second and third "Back to the Future" films and ballet slippers from "The Red Shoes". ($1 = 0.7591 pounds) (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alison Williams)

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By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Netflix's hit sci-fi series "Stranger Things" is about to ride to its conclusion with a marketing and merchandising blitz befitting a blockbuster movie. Ahead of the fifth and final season's debut on Wednesday, thousands turned out in Los Angeles at a cycling event dubbed "One Last Ride," a nod to the show's bike-riding teenagers in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.  Retailers are offering everything from Demogorgon Crunch cereal to Hellfire Club backpacks for what is Netflix's largest consumer products program to date, said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee. Target stores are selling more than 150 "Stranger Things" products.  Many brands are leaning in to 1980s nostalgia. Gatorade brought back an '80s Citrus Cooler flavor, and Walmart is selling a "Stranger Things" collection of Care Bears, one of the hot-selling toys of that era. The promotional push extends around the world.  "This is a show that really resonates globally," Lee said.  In Paris, visitors can browse a Hawkins Christmas market at the Galeries Lafayette department store. A "Stranger Things" experience featuring the Hawkins Lab has stopped in San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. New Netflix Houses inside malls feature "Stranger Things" areas. Instead of releasing all episodes at once, Netflix will stagger the final season's episodes around major holidays. Four episodes debut on Wednesday, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, three on Christmas Day in December and the final episode on New Year's Eve.   "Stranger Things" – whose stars include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp – will be hard to miss throughout the holiday season. A "Stranger Things" float featuring 1970s and '80s rock band Foreigner will appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. More products will arrive to tempt holiday shoppers. The all-in approach is similar to what movie studios employ for big-budget films such as "Barbie" or "Wicked," said Amanda Cioletti, an expert on licensing trends and vice president of content and strategy at research firm Informa Markets Global Licensing Group. TV shows rarely receive such treatment.  "We see 'Stranger Things' everywhere," said Cioletti. "When you are on social media you see it, and you see it in all the storefronts. You see it in every other placement that makes sense." Fans at the Los Angeles bike ride voiced anticipation for the final season of a series that began nine years ago. "The (show) started when I was in about sixth grade, so I was the same age as the characters when it started," said 21-year-old Chloe Allen. "It's definitely been a huge part of my life." Netflix hopes to keep fans interested in the "Stranger Things" world for years. A play called "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" is running on Broadway and London's West End, and an animated series is set for next year. A live-action spinoff also is planned. "It's not a continuation of the story of Hawkins, of these characters, but it's still in the universe of 'Stranger Things,'" Co-Creator Ross Duffer said. Executive producer Shawn Levy revealed few details but said he and the Duffers would offer fans something new. "We are never going to repeat ourselves," Levy said. (Reporting Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

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By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) -A new episode of the "Beatles Anthology", 30 years after the original landmark series, shows the impact on Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr of being in the biggest rock band in history, its writer and director said. The original eight-part documentary, broadcast in 1995, spanned the band's gritty early days in Liverpool and Hamburg to the phenomenon of Beatlemania and global superstardom and the break-up in 1970. The "Anthology" project included the single "Free as a Bird", created in the 1990s from a demo recorded by John Lennon in 1977, three years before he was murdered. The remastered series, with a ninth episode including unseen 1990s footage of McCartney, Harrison and Starr, debuts on Disney+ on Wednesday. "The new episode is untethered from the chronology of the original episodes," writer and director Oliver Murray said. "One to eight is the literal birth of the Beatles through to their break-up in 1970, and episode nine is able to speak to the inward-looking sense of what it was like to be a Beatle." The film was restored by an Apple Corps production team working with Peter Jackson's Park Road Post company in New Zealand, with technology Jackson used to make "The Beatles: Get Back" documentary, which premiered in 2021. "The whole of the Beatles archive has been restored and is now digital," Murray said. "Every time we went into the edit suite it was almost like stepping back in time to the mid-90s." He said Jackson's documentary changed the mythology of the Beatles, which until then had been etched in stone. "What 'Get Back' did was break down those stereotypes, and we see them more as very young men," he said. The new episode gives fans an opportunity to learn about the band from scratch, with an understanding of who they were as people, he said. "The reason that the Beatles story still resonates is because it's 20th-century folklore," he said. "It is a timeless story of some lads from Liverpool who share a dream and go on to conquer the world." (Reporting by Paul SandleEditing by Bill Berkrot)

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

LONDON (Reuters) -From Will Ferrell's "Elf" costume to "Star Wars" props, an array of movie memorabilia spanning cinematic history heads to auction next month.     More than 1,350 lots, valued at a combined estimate of 8 million pounds ($10.54 million), are on offer in Propstore's Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction taking place December 5-7. Leading the sale is Boba Fett's EE-3 carbine rifle from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", with an estimate of 350,000 pounds – 700,000 pounds.     "It only came in to us about a year ago and we spent a number of weeks going through it, almost to a forensic level and managed to screen match the wood grain on the stock – there's some damage and distress on it – and realise that this was and is the one and only Boba Fett blaster that was used in 'Empire Strikes Back'," Propstore founder and CEO Stephen Lane said at a press preview on Tuesday. Other lots from the franchise include a rebel pilot helmet from the same film and a Stormtrooper E-11 imperial blaster from "Return of the Jedi". "Indiana Jones" is also represented in the sale with a brown fedora made for the titular character, played by Harrison Ford, in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" on offer. Costumes include Ferrell's green tunic from Christmas movie "Elf", and Spider-Man's black symbiote suit from "Spider-Man 3" in which Tobey Maguire played the superhero. Other lots include Marty McFly's hoverboard from the second and third "Back to the Future" films and ballet slippers from "The Red Shoes". ($1 = 0.7591 pounds) (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alison Williams)

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