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    “Ghostbusters,” “Morbius” postponed to 2021 due to virus

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1214 Views
    In this Nov. 19, 2018, file photo, Jason Reitman attends the 2018 Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film Honoring Hugh Jackman at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Goleta, Calif. Sony Pictures on Monday, March 30, 3030, cleared out its summer calendar due to the coronavirus, postponing the releases of Reitman's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and the Marvel movie "Morbius" to 2021. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Sony Pictures on Monday cleared out its summer calendar due to the coronavirus, postponing the releases of Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and the Marvel movie "Morbius" to 2021. 

    Hollywood's summer season — the film industry's most lucrative time of year — is increasingly shutting down because of the pandemic. Theaters nationwide have closed and major film productions have halted with no clear timeline for resuming. 

    "Ghostbuster: Afterlife," set 30 years after "Ghostbusters II," had been scheduled for July 10, but it will now open March 5 next year. The Jared Leto-starring "Morbius," slated for July 31, will now be released March 19 next year. "Greyhound," a World War II drama starring Tom Hanks, is now to-be-determined instead of opening June 12. 

    Last week, Warner Bros. postponed "Wonder Woman 1984"  to August instead of June, and undated its adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights." The Walt Disney Co. took Marvel's "Black Widow" (previously May 1) off the schedule. Those postponements followed others for the "Fast and Furious" movie "F9," the James Bond film "No Time to Die" and the horror sequel "A Quiet Place Part II." 

    One Sony release moved up. "Fatherhood," with Kevin Hart, will open in October instead of next January. 

    Tags:Ghosbusters: AfterlifeMorbiusSony Pictures



    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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