Hollywood Week: Disney Continues to Fight Against the Future, Susan Sarandon, Jussie Smollet, Box Office

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Saturday, 02 December 2023 15:21

Written by Janet Walker

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, who returned to helm what many called a listing ship, is again confronting the possibility of a hostile takeover as Nelson Peltz and Ike Perlmutter team up to demand a seat at the table.

"In a battle that originally began in November 2022, billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz has returned in an attempt–yet again–to usurp power from Disney CEO Bob Iger and the board, as he admits he's lost confidence in the boomerang CEO's abilities to do right by Disney's shareholders," Disneydining.com reported.

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Former Marvel Chief Ike Perlmutter, who is said to be motivated by a personal vendetta against Iger who fired him as head of the alt-universe studio, has essentially given proxy to Nelson Peltz to vote his significant shares. Peltz and his firm Trian Fund Management, now have even greater leverage to sway other investors to allow him to control their shares through "beneficial ownership" in a proxy vote, which could be seen has extremely risky.

The appointment this week of two new Board members, James Gorman of Morgan Stanley, and Sir Jeremy Darroch, former CEO of SKY media have abated the encroaching dissenters.

While Iger is concentrated on resurrecting the pre-pandemic glamour and allure of the mouse house, until then, with every dollar lost, and limited stock rebound, the swirling storm clouds of hostile will continue to gain strength and rage.

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Celebrities Backtrack on Pro-Palestinian Statements

Susan Sarandon, the academy award winning actress, after being dropped by Hollywood powerhouse talent agency UTA, has backtracked on her pro-Palestinian comments, which she stated, "This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true," Sarandon wrote in an Instagram post," reported The New York Post.

Actress Julianna Margulies, who is best known from her role on "The Good Wife" and "Grey's Anatomy," who appeared on a podcast and made comments which were, she has explained taken out of context replied, via a representative with this statement, "Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination. I did not intend for my words to sow further division, for which I am sincerely apologetic," CNN reported.

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Jussie Smollet Conviction Upheld

The conviction of Jussie Smollet, who starred in the television series, "Empire," and was convicted of staging a racist, homophobic hate crime in 2019, and then lying to the police, has been upheld by an appeals court.

"Prosecutors said Smollett told the men what slurs to shout, and to yell that he was in "MAGA Country," a reference to Donald Trump's presidential campaign slogan. A jury convicted Smollett in 2021 on five felony counts of disorderly conduct, a charge that can be filed in Illinois when a person lies to police," the AP reported.

The three-judge appellate court panel voted 2-1 in favor of upholding the conviction. Smollet's attorneys have stated they will be filing with the Illinois State Supreme Court

The actor, who spent six days of his 150-day sentence, in jail will be required to finish his sentence if the Illinois State Supreme Court upholds the conviction. He will also be forced to pay restitution to the city of Chicago, along with other requirements.

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Box Office

Just as Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour film leaves the box office for streaming, Beyonce's Renaissance Concert Film has opened nationwide. Beyonce's film is expected to perform as well as the Queen herself did throughout her global tour.

"Clocking in at 2 hours and 48 minutes, "Renaissance" is more than a concert movie; Beyoncé narrates the making of the tour, and there's behind-the-scenes footage and candid family moments. (Beyoncé is credited as "director, producer & creative director" of the film), reported The Washington Post.

Renaissance is expected to be a celebration for those who did follow Queen Bey and for others who might not ever see the Queen herself in concert. The film also provides intimate moments, narrated by Beyonce, on how the tour materialized as well as the conversation between Beyonce and Blue Ivy, 11, who was persistent about wanting to dance on stage.

For those who may never see the film, Beyonce was quick to stop that idea until she was overruled by a persistent daughter (has anyone been in that situation?) and both Blue Ivy's father (icon Jay-Z) and grandmother, Tina Knowles. From Superstar, rockstar to mom concerned about the tour and the bey-hive backlash, Renaissance has it all.