Skydance mashes proven properties of Paramount and Warner Bros. into an uncertain Hollywood hybrid

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Continuity will be the immediate emphasis for Skydance, the new entertainment giant created by Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The focus is on continuity, showcasing a vast array of intellectual properties like “Top Gun” and “Harry Potter.” The merger will eventually unify streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+, though no timeline is set. Skydance plans to produce at least 30 movies annually, blending originals and franchises. Theaters may benefit from a robust release schedule, with 36 films expected next year. The merger aims to equip the iconic studios with a more powerful engine. But many in the industry are concerned, and layoffs are inevitable.

Eva Marie Saint, star of 'North by Northwest' and 'On the Waterfront,' dies at 102

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscar winner Eva Marie Saint has died at the age of 102. Saint’s family announced that she died Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles. The pale, willowy blonde who won an Academy Award as supporting actress for her first movie, “On the Waterfront,” and appeared opposite Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Warren Beatty and other stars of the 1950s and 1960s. Her credits included the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “North by Northwest,” but she was also known for the films she declined: “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” with Gregory Peck, “Summer and Smoke” with Laurence Harvey and “The Rainmaker” with Burt Lancaster.

In ‘Tenzing,’ the Everest-scaling Sherpa Tenzing Norgay finally gets the spotlight

TORONTO (AP) — The first image ever taken of a human being standing atop Mount Everest was of Tenzing Norgay. When he and Edmund Hillary reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on May 29, 1953, one of the first things Hillary did was take out his camera and aim it at his fellow climber, the Sherpa Norgay, as he waved his ice ax tied with flags for Britain, India, Nepal and the United Nations. Since that moment, camera lenses have seldom been pointed at Norgay, or the many Sherpa who have followed in his history-making footsteps. The new Apple Studios film “Tenzing” puts Norgay back in the center of the frame, telling the life story of the Nepalese-Indian Sherpa mountaineer.

CNN now has a new owner. What will the future of the network be under Skydance?

CNN has a new owner: Skydance. After a tumultuous, roughly yearlong process, Skydance-owned Paramount closed its $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday. And beyond Hollywood, the mega merger brings two titans of the American TV news landscape — CBS and CNN — under the same roof. On the eve of the deal’s completion, Skydance confirmed that CNN’s Mark Thompson will stay on as editor-in-chief of the network — separate from CBS, where Bari Weiss remains at the helm. But how the combined company’s news operations will look farther down the road are yet to be seen.

Skydance now runs two of Hollywood's legacy film studios. A look at the new company, by the numbers

David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has completed its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing two of Hollywood’s most storied legacy film studios under one mammoth media and entertainment conglomerate named Skydance. Now, Skydance must decide how to make the most out of a trove of entertainment assets, including the HBO Max and Paramount+ video streaming services, a film library that includes “Star Trek,” “Barbie,” “Top Gun,” “Harry Potter,” and “Superman,” and two major news organizations, CNN and CBS News. Here’s a look at the new company, by the numbers.

Emmy Awards to move to Prime Video in 2027 in 6-year deal between Amazon and the Television Academy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Emmy Awards are moving to Prime Video starting in 2027. Amazon and the Television Academy have struck a six-year deal, ending the ceremony's seven-decade run on traditional broadcast networks. The Emmys have aired on one of the four major networks since 1955, rotating among them annually. This change means the Emmys will have a single, long-term home, allowing for continuity and growth. The awards will remain free to watch, with no Prime Video subscription required. The move echoes a similar shift for the Oscars to YouTube. Both the Academy and Amazon hope to increase viewership and attract a younger audience.

Israeli documentary ‘NAZA’ opens in the US, reigniting debate over the war in Gaza

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The Israeli documentary "NAZA" is opening in U.S. theaters, reigniting debate over America's military support for Israel. The film features Israeli military insiders discussing the alleged reckless killing of civilians in Gaza during the war with Hamas. The Israeli military denies the claims in the film, and authorities there have threatened to strip the filmmakers of their citizenship. The film will open in some U.S. cities this week and will be available for streaming in late November. The filmmakers say Americans need to understand the major role their government played by providing billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.

ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction

WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for ABC has asked a federal judge to prevent the Trump administration from conducting an unusual, early review of its broadcast licenses, likening it to a looming execution by guillotine. The network argued on Tuesday that the early review was already chilling its editorial decisions weeks before the U.S. midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan did not immediately rule on ABC’s request for a preliminary injunction. A government attorney argued that, as a procedural matter, the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over ABC’s case because it belongs in a different venue. A ruling was not expected until at least mid-October.

The enduring popularity of Elvis Presley's Graceland is a monument to his legacy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Graceland, Elvis Presley's iconic home, continues to captivate fans decades after his death. Elvis bought the Classical revival home in 1957, moving in with his mother, father and grandmother. Later came his wife Priscilla and then daughter Lisa Marie. The house, located on what is now Elvis Presley Boulevard, has always been accessible to the public. Elvis was known for interacting with fans, sometimes going to the gates to sign autographs. After his death in 1977, Graceland became a pilgrimage site. Elvis is buried there alongside family members. Today it is a National Historic Landmark and its popularity is a monument to Elvis' legacy.

What Paramount’s Warner Bros. takeover means for streaming, movies and news

NEW YORK (AP) — Bugs Bunny, meet SpongeBob Squarepants, and so much more. In a marriage of two massive Hollywood portfolios, Paramount has completed its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to create the media giant known as Skydance. The deal brings together HBO Max and Paramount Plus, with plans to combine the streaming services. It shrinks Hollywood’s major studios from five to four, raising concerns about jobs and which movies get made. And it puts CNN and CBS News under the same roof, sparking worries about editorial independence. As for consumers and the content creators who inform and entertain them, what it means is less clear.