In this March 24, 2013 file photo, actor Tom Holland, winner of Best Male Newcomer Award appears at the Jameson Empire Film Awards 2013 in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
The Spidey search is over.
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures announced Tuesday that "The Impossible" star Tom Holland would be taking over the role of Peter Parker and the web-slinging superhero in the next Spider-Man film, set to hit theaters on July 28, 2017.
Jon Watts, who directed the indie thriller "Cop Car," has been set to direct the still-untitled film
Sony Pictures promises a new creative direction for this iteration of Spider-Man. Since 2002, there have been five films in the $4 billion series, with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield previously in the title role.
Holland, a 19-year-old English actor, has also appeared in "Locke" and the TV series "Wolf Hall." He can be seen this December in Ron Howard's "In the Heart of the Sea."
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
