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    “Star Wars: Episode VIII” release delayed to Dec. 2017

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1213 Views
    This photo provided by Disney shows Daisey Ridley as Rey, left, and John Boyega as Finn, in a scene from the new film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," directed by J.J. Abrams. (Film Frame/Disney/Lucasfilm via AP)

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    There is a disturbance in the force.

    The release of "Star Wars: Episode VIII" has been delayed from May 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017, the Walt Disney Co. announced Wednesday. The date change postpones the anticipated next "Star Wars" set installment to follow the box-office hit "The Force Awakens."

    Though "Star Wars" was once synonymous with the summer blockbuster, the date change means that the franchise will again look to dominate movie theaters in the holiday season. It has proven a lucrative match for "The Force Awakens," which has made a record $861 million domestically and $1.88 billion globally in five weeks of release.

    Disney offered no reason for the delay, but rumors have recently swirled that writer-director Rian Johnson ("Looper") is rewriting the script. Production is set to begin next month in London.

    In the interim, the "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue One" is due out Dec. 16 this year. Directed by Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla"), it stars a cast including Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Riz Ahmed.

    With prominent release dates now staked out by studios years in advance for their largest franchises, the impact of the switch immediately caused ripples. Disney moved one of its other billion-dollar franchises, "Pirates of the Caribbean," to May 26, 2017. The Johnny Depp series returns with "Dead Men Tell No Tales."

    At the same time, Sony Pictures moved two of its biggest movies into summer 2017. The next "Spider-Man," starring Tom Holland and directed by Jon Watts, shifted up three weeks to July 28, 2017. Jake Kasdan's "Jumanji" remake shifted from Christmas 2016 to July 28, 2017.

    Tags:Star WarsWalt Disney Co.



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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