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☆ 5 things to know before the stock market Monday, May 6
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Michele Luhn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Feeling optimisticStock futures were higher Monday after ending last week on a positive note in light of a weaker-than-expected jobs report. Last week, the Dow and Nasdaq rose 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively, while the S&P 500 added 0.5%. Buffett's back, all rightWarren Buffett speaks during the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 4, 2024. During the meeting, Buffett also fielded questions from shareholders, opined on the future of artificial intelligence and praised Fed Chair Jerome Powell for his work steering the economy. Final verdictCombination showing Former FTX CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried (L) and Zhao Changpeng (R), founder and chief executive officer of Binance.

Persons: Joseph Prezioso, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Buffett, Greg Abel, Jerome Powell, Sam Bankman, Zhao Changpeng, Mike Segar, Benjamin Girette, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Justin Sullivan Organizations: Dow, Nasdaq, Traders, Federal Reserve, Disney, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Berkshire, CNBC, Oracle, Berkshire Hathaway's, Paramount, Reuters, Bloomberg Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, San Rafael , California

☆ The ‘Star Wars’ timeline is confusing. Here’s when ‘The Acolyte,’ ‘Ahsoka’ and more take place
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Worry not, padawans: CNN has laid out a comprehensive timeline of the “Star Wars” canon so you can follow all of the franchise’s time-jumps without getting lost in space. These details are pulled from the official “Star Wars” resources “Ultimate Star Wars” and “Star Wars Character Encyclopedia,” as well as a chart of the eras explored throughout the franchise. ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (animated series)Ahsoka is Anakin's padawan in "The Clone Wars," and he lovingly calls her "Snips." ‘Star Wars Rebels’Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios and Sabine Wren take on the Empire in "Star Wars Rebels." ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’Heroes attempt to find the plans to blow up the Death Star in "Rogue One."

Persons: we’ve, Rey Skywalker, Jin, Anakin Skywalker, Wan, Anakin, who’s, Anakin’s, Darth Maul, Palpatine, Darth Sidious, Obi, “, Padmé, ”, Count Dooku, Warner, Ahsoka Tano, Sidious, Darth Vader, Luke, Leia, Vader, ‘, Han, Chewie, Jonathan Olley, scoundrel Han, Thrillist, frenemy, Lando Calrissian, ‘ Obi, Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios, Sabine Wren, ‘ Andor, Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso, Jyn, ’ Luke, —, Yoda, batty, Lando, Yikes, Jabba, redeems, VI, VII, Grogu, Mando, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, flitted, Boba, Din, ” It’s, Ahsoka, Jabba the, Suzanne Tenner, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Thrawn, Rey, Kylo Ren, ” Rey, stormtrooper Finn, Kylo, ’ Finn, Phasma, Ren, Snoke, MacGuffin, Poe, Emperor Palpatine, she’s, Jude, Kerry Condon, Lee Jung, jae, Amandla, Leslye Headland, James Mangold, Indiana Jones, Dave Filoni, Daisy Ridley Organizations: CNN, “, “ Star, Lucasfilm, Everett, Lucasfilm Ltd, USA, ‘, Warner Bros, Fox, Empire, Tech, Disney, Walt Disney Studios, ‘ Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Rebels, AV, Pictures, Rebel, Rebels, Galaxy, imperials, Rotten, “ Star Wars Rebels, Force, Rey, C3PO, Jude Law, Variety Locations: Yavin, “, Republic, Hunter, Luke’s, ”, USA, carbonite, New Republic, Endor

☆ Here Come a Trillion Cicadas. The Midwest is Abuzz.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Julie Bosman | Jamie Kelter Davis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

As the third graders of Cumberland Elementary in the Chicago suburbs colored, clipped and glued paper to make cicadas with filmy wings, they confided their fears about what is about to happen in Illinois. “Some people think cicadas can suck your brains out,” said Willa, a red-haired 8-year-old in a Star Wars T-shirt. “They’re going to be so loud,” Christopher, 9, said as he colored his cicada intently. “I hate noise.”“It’s kind of scary,” Madison, 8, said while picking through markers scattered on a green table. “What if they do something to me?”

Persons: ”, Willa, “ They’re, Christopher Organizations: Cumberland Elementary Locations: Cumberland, Chicago, Illinois, ” Madison

☆ Star Wars was the first Lego license — 25 years later, it's stronger than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Star Wars Lego models are seen at the Bricks & Figs museum in Krakow, Poland, on April 15, 2023. A design director at the Denmark-based Lego company, he has spent the past 25 years creating Lego Star Wars sets. Now, Lego Star Wars has become a blueprint for the company's other brand deals — think Harry Potter, Batman and Marvel's Avengers. The Lego Star Wars collaboration came at a time of financial turmoil for Lego. Lego Icons, Lego Technic, Lego City and Lego Harry Potter also performed well.

Persons: Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, Frederiksen, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Jill Wilfert, Wilfert, It's, Paul Southern, Shirlaine Forrest, " Frederiksen, we're, Southern, We've Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Star, CNBC, Disney, Epic Games, Lego Star, Lego, Force, Manchester Central, Imperial, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Company, Lego Star Wars, Warner Bros, Games Locations: Krakow, Poland, Denmark, Lego, Manchester, England

☆ As ‘The Phantom Menace’ turns 25, six (non-Jar Jar) things the ‘Star Wars’ prequel got right
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The teeth-gnashing aspects of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” have been chewed upon for a quarter century, from Watto to Anakin Skywalker’s Midi-chlorian count (and miracle birth) to almost everyone’s favorite punching bag, Jar Jar Binks. Think of them as creative building blocks, which overcame clunkier parts of the script and awkward performances to influence the rest of the “Star Wars” timeline. Ray Park as the villainous Darth Maul in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." It’s also likely a key reason why “Star Wars” has continued to flourish as parents pass it on to their kids. “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” will play in select theaters beginning May 3.

Persons: Anakin Skywalker’s, George Lucas ’, Dave Filoni, “ Obi, Wan, They’re, Darth Sidious, Ian McDiarmid, Lucas, credibly, Mace Windu, Samuel L, Jackson didn’t, Ray Park, Darth Maul, Filoni, “, Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Obi, Wan Kenobi, McGregor, Neeson, Wan –, John Williams, It’s, ” Organizations: CNN, “, “ Star, Lucasfilm, Force Locations: Watto, Republic

☆ The Actor Who Played Jar Jar Binks Is Proud of His ‘Star Wars’ Legacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Carlos Aguilar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Ahmed Best is a futurist, an educator, a martial artist, a writer-director and the actor behind Jar Jar Binks, the most hated character in the “Star Wars” universe. Long-eared Jar Jar is a bipedal amphibianlike creature with an ungainly walk and a winning attitude. The groundbreaking, computer-generated goofball debuted in the first installment of George Lucas’s prequel trilogy, “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace,” and instantly set off widespread criticism from both fans and the press. “It was the first time in my life where I couldn’t see the future. Here I was at 26 years old, living my dream, and my dream was over.”

Persons: Ahmed, George Lucas’s, ” Organizations: “

☆ Video: Star Wars legend Mark Hamill talks about his Oval Office meeting with Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Ally Hill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ As ‘Alien’ turns 45, those screams still echo through space and time
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“In space, no one can hear you scream.”“Alien” premiered with that memorable advertising line in June 1979. I went to see “Alien” on its opening weekend with my older brother, knowing relatively little about it. Driving to the Avco cinemas in Westwood near UCLA, we immediately noticed the long line for tickets wrapping around the theater and heading down the block. Yaphet Kotto, Sigourney Weaver and Ian Holm in "Alien." Yet in the 1970s, with films like “Jaws,” “Star Wars” and “Alien,” they seemed to emerge almost organically, yielding screams, either of delight or horror, that, like those memories, have echoed across space and time.

Persons: CNN —, “, Ridley Scott’s, Ellen Ripley, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, Ian Holm, –, thrall, Ripley, Romulus, ”, James Cameron’s Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Avco, UCLA, Fox, Hollywood Locations: Westwood

astead herndonLast year, the comedian was Roy Wood Jr., a veteran of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central —archived recording (roy wood jr.) Happy to be here. I don’t think you can ignore anything that the American people are bringing to you. So I think that’s where it ain’t funny to a lot of people. And I think that’s what we’re — those are the only two things we’re armed with is either laughs or yelling. But now do you want the funny guy that’s going to be in control of your uterus?

Persons: astead herndon, Jon Stewart, Wanda Sykes, roy, Dark Brandon, Roy Wood Jr, astead herndon —, I’ll, I’m, Clarence Thomas, There’s, Trump, it’s, Donald Trump, —, Biden, ” I’m Astead, ”, Showtime ”, that’ll, astead herndon Really, It’ll, astead, Jim Messina, Joe Biden, Rupert Murdoch, That’s, Harry Styles, Don Lemon, Harris, Ron Klain, exoticize Joe Biden, Scranton Joe, we’re, you’re, Obama, herndon, we’ve, Bob Dole, that’s, George Floyd, They’re, what’s, Roy, Buddy, who’s, Trayvon Martin —, let’s, Ludacris, Kim Kardashian, Ray J, Kardashian, astead herndon Roy, he’s, Joe Biden’s, It’s, I’ve, He’s, George Lopez, they’re, astead herndon I’m, there’s, John Oliver — astead herndon, “, Sarah Palin, Tina Fey’s, Nikki Haley, ain’t, Haley, Nikki Haley can’t, donald, Ron “ DeSanctimonious, astead herndon It’s, who’ve, Obama Obama, Lock, Hillary’s, Marco, You’re, Little Marco, Karine Jean, Pierre, astead herndon That’s, Donald Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Jonah Bromwich, haven’t, jonah bromwich You’ve, We’ve, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, don’t, Trump — jonah bromwich, He’ll, biden, astead herndon Joe Biden, Let’s, She’s Organizations: White, Super, Comedy, “, Disney, The New York Times, Showtime, astead herndon, Trump, Biden, Paramount, BET, Scranton, Republicans, Florida, M University, Black College, Republican, Democratic Party, Democratic, Democrat, RFK, Party, Tea Party, SNL, Democrats, Tower, National, ”, AMI, Trump — Locations: Washington , DC, France, America, ” I’m Astead Herndon, herndon, Scranton, Tallahassee, Birmingham , Alabama, Birmingham, astead herndon, South Carolina, CPAC, Palestine, Israel, Manhattan, Florida, Tampa, Pennsylvania

☆ ‘Avengers Assemble:’ Five years after ‘Endgame,’ the box office needs more than just a blip
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

For many it felt like a soothing balm, underscoring the kind of communal experience people were missing as the still-new coronavirus pandemic shuttered theaters. Even allowing for that, the operatic heights achieved by “Endgame,” which grossed nearly $2.8 billion worldwide, would have been difficult to replicate. Such a concept would have sounded particularly foreign in the run-up to “Endgame,” when Marvel and its leader, Kevin Feige, appeared to possess a Midas touch. Venezuelan filmgoers watch the first screening in Venezuela of Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" at a cinema in Caracas on April 26, 2019. Unlike “Endgame,” the challenges that face the movie business can’t be undone with a snap of the fingers.

Persons: Captain, Thanos, ”, Marvel, Kevin Feige, Federico Parra, Joe, Anthony Russo, America, Russo, Joe Russo, Barbie ”, Captain America Organizations: CNN, Captain America, Marvel Studios, Marvel, DC, Warner Bros, Hollywood, “, Getty, Film, Captain, Disney Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, AFP

☆ NASA flyby reveals lava lake, ‘Steeple Mountain’ on Jupiter’s moon Io
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Close flybys of Io, one of Jupiter’s moons and the most volcanically active world in our solar system, have revealed a lava lake and a towering feature called “Steeple Mountain” on the moon’s alien surface. “We also got some great close-ups and other data on a 200-kilometer-long (127-mile-long) lava lake called Loki Patera. Juno detected the mountain with the help of the sun shining on Io’s surface, which created dramatic shadows that revealed a very sharp peak. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSSAs an outdoors enthusiast, Bolton joked that Io’s Steeple Mountain should be one of the solar system’s skiing and snowboarding destinations. The mission team used Juno’s Microwave Radiometer instrument to create maps of Io’s surface, showing how incredibly smooth it is.

Persons: ”, Scott Bolton, “, Loki Patera, Gerald Eichstädt, Thomas Thomopoulos, ” Bolton, Bolton, Galileo Galilei, Hera Organizations: CNN, Southwest Research Institute, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Bolton, European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Juno, Science, “, Galileo Locations: Vienna, Chile

☆ Lego is cashing in big time on its adult fan base, doubling its revenue in the last decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Lego is cashing in on adult fans buying high-priced Lego sets. The $850 Millennium Falcon set is part of how Lego doubled its revenue in a decade. Lego knows that and is cashing in on its base of adult fans willing to dish out hundreds of dollars on elaborate sets. "Nowadays it's not so geeky," Sian Twynham, another adult Lego builder, told the Journal. AdvertisementWhether it's nostalgia or strategic marketing, toy companies are seeing big returns when they rebrand kids products for adult audiences.

Persons: —, Jonny Edmondson, We've, Julia Goldin, Lego's, Sian Twynham, Greta Gerwig's, toymaker Mattel, execs Organizations: Service, Star, Wall Street, Warner Bros, Hasbro, Associated Press

☆ Brady, Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning headline Fanatics’ effort to build a comic-con of sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events and the former president of ReedPop — where he produced pop culture events like New York Comic-Con, Complex-Con, and Star Wars Celebration — said he sees several parallels between pop culture fans and sports fans. However, he noted, while events like New York Comic-Con have evolved to embrace multiple difference fanbases and communities, the sports-focused event space is "ready to be disrupted a bit." Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu and Hulk Hogan are just some of the big sports names scheduled to appear, Fensterman said. "Those are the moments that we get excited about, and we just don't see it being done anywhere else in the world of live sports events," Fensterman said. The festival was the highest-grossing and most-attended fan event in WWE history, according to Fanatics.

Persons: Con, Lance Fensterman, ReedPop, —, You've, Fensterman, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli, Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu, Hulk Hogan Organizations: New York, Star, Fest, Javits Center, NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC, WWE, Endeavor, IMG, WWE's Locations: New York City, U.S, New, Philadelphia

☆ AMC exec has regrets about that 'Dune: Part Two' popcorn bucket
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

You know the "Dune: Part Two" popcorn bucket? An AMC exec told Variety they never would have made them if AMC knew how people would react. AdvertisementThe viral "Dune: Part 2" popcorn bucket has left one AMC Theatres exec with a bit of regret. Frank said the company is continuing to "learn and evolve" its collectible popcorn bucket business. "It's a material part of our food and beverage business, but it's not the majority of it," Frank told Variety.

Persons: —, Elizabeth Frank, Frank, it's, Variety, Barbie, Wonka Organizations: AMC, Service, Variety, Business, eBay, Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood, Disney

☆ 'Star Wars' actor Billy Dee Williams says blackface should be allowed, and that he 'loved' one of its most notorious uses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Billy Dee Williams said that actors should be allowed to use blackface. The "Star Wars" actor said he loved Laurence Olivier as Othello, a blackface performance many regard with horror. Advertisement"Star Wars" actor Billy Dee Williams said that actors should be allowed to use blackface, reopening a topic widely considered taboo. Williams, who is Black, broached the topic in an interview with Bill Maher, speaking in support of being able to use blackface. He was also the first Black actor to play a leading role in the "Star Wars" movies.

Persons: Billy Dee Williams, Laurence Olivier, Williams, —, Bill Maher, Shakespeare's, Lando Calrissian, Olivier, Dominic Cavendish, Maher, should've, I'm Organizations: Service, Daily Telegraph

☆ Billy Dee Williams says actors should be allowed to wear blackface
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

I love that kind of stuff.”The origins of blackface date back to the minstrel shows of the mid-19th century. You should do it.”“If you’re an actor, you should do anything you want to do,” he said. Williams, who is best known for playing Lando Calrissian in the “Star Wars” franchise, pushed back. I don’t want to do anything based on this whole idea that ‘you’re a Black person, you’re a White person’ and things of that nature,” he said. I’m a creative entity in this life.”In 2019, Williams spoke about embracing the different parts of his character by using gender-fluid pronouns.

Persons: Billy Dee Williams, Bill Maher, Williams, White, Laurence Olivier’s, ”, Olivier, “, Maher, Olivier wouldn’t, ” Williams, Williams “, should’ve, Lando Calrissian, I’m, ’, ’ I’m, “ I’m, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Southern, Smithsonian’s National Museum of, ”, “, Wars, Esquire Locations: Southern United States

☆ Disney's parks are its top money maker — and it plans to spend $60 billion to keep it that way
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

It had been more than a year since the Covid pandemic had forced Disney's domestic parks to shutter, but D'Amaro, chair of Disney's experiences division, was confident guests would flood back in when the gates reopened. Revenues fell 35% in 2020, a nearly $10 billion decrease from the $26.2 billion the experiences division had tallied in the year before the pandemic. The experiences division posted record revenue of $32.5 billion in fiscal 2023, a 16% increase from the prior year. Its innovations, from ride mechanics and animatronics to creature design and immersive architecture, have made Disney's parks a standout in the industry. Storytelling is at the heart of everything across Disney's experiences division.

Persons: Mickey Mouse, Ian Langsdon, Josh D'Amaro, D'Amaro, Bob Chapek, D'Amaro —, Walt Disney, King Arthur Carousel, Christian Thompson, you've, it's, Bob Iger, Nelson, Walt Disney Imagineering, Rey, Kylo Ren, Judy Hopps, Imagineers, CNBC —, Lewis, Disney, Imagineering, Matt Stroshane, Alan Bergman Organizations: Paris, Afp, Getty, Gibson, Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney, Guardians, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Star Wars, California Disneyland's, Walt Disney Imagineering's, Disney Engineers, Force, Southwest, CNBC, Galactic, Marvel Locations: California, Burbank, Disneyland, Hong Kong, Shanghai Disneyland, Florida, Epcot, Magic, Wharf, Disneyland's, Disney's, Edge

☆ 'Mandalorian & Grogu,' 'Toy Story 5,' and another 'Tron' coming to theaters from Disney
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Mandalorian and the Child (Grogu) on Disney+'s "The Mandalorian." The Walt Disney Company on Friday revealed its new theatrical schedule, which will feature a film about the Mandalorian and Grogu, a fifth "Toy Story" film, and another "Tron" flick before the end of 2026. The company's theatrical business has struggled in the wake of pandemic shutdowns and dual Hollywood labor strikes, as productions stalled and moviegoers' box-office habits shifted. Disney teased that one of its 2026 Star Wars films would feature the iconic duo from its Disney+ series "The Mandalorian" and revealed its title will be "The Mandalorian & Grogu." A fifth "Toy Story" film is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, and "Tron: Ares" is slated for Oct. 10, 2025.

Persons: Disney, Bob Iger, He's, Iger, Oscar, Rami Malek, Amy Adams Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Company, Marvel

☆ Disney reveals more on huge Magic Kingdom expansion, one part of a $60 billion investment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Glendale, California CNN —Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” sits at one edge of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park, the most visited theme park in the world. “It’s probably the largest expansion ever at Magic Kingdom,” Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World site portfolio executive, said Tuesday during a rare media event previewing new Disney attraction designs and technology at its Walt Disney Imagineering facility in California. Disney’s 10-year investment planThe Magic Kingdom expansion is one part of a $60 billion investment Disney has said it’s planning for its parks, cruises and experiences over the next decade. But any plans for expanding the theme park footprint at the Disneyland resort would need Anaheim city approval because of zoning issues. This is really a wild experience.”Charita Carter, executive creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, worked on the project from its inception about four years ago.

Persons: “ It’s, ” Michael Hundgen, Walt, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Josh D'Amaro, Iger, “ it’s, Disney, ” Iger, ”, Mike Pucher, Walt Disney Imagineering Iger, Imagineers, Darth Vader, Imagineer Lanny Smoot, ” Smoot, Smoot, Christian Thompson, Stella Reese Chase, Leah Chase, Chase, “ I’m, I’ve, ” Charita Carter, Walt Disney Imagineering, Carter, “ Organizations: California CNN, Railroad, Disney, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney, Walt, CNN, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal, Comcast, Anaheim City Council, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Research, Walt Disney Imagineering Research, Disneyland’s Locations: Glendale, California, ”, Central Florida, Disney’s Florida, Florida, Anaheim, New Orleans

☆ Disney beat back activist investor Nelson Peltz. Now the real work begins
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

That would mark a milestone for the company, which launched Disney+ on Nov. 12, 2019. It would be the first time Disney showed it can make money from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. Disney will need to sustain and grow streaming profit to justify Iger's five-year-old strategy to go "all in" on the segment. Disney has already offered ESPN+, a sports streaming service that has some but not all of ESPN's content. Trian Partners' Nelson Peltz, who failed to join Disney's board Wednesday after securing just 31% of the vote, publicly questioned what he has called Disney's "woke" content strategy.

Persons: Bob Iger, Sun Valley , Idaho David A, Iger, Disney, they've, Cowen, Doug Creutz, Needham, Laura Martin, Gabby Jones, David Greenbaum, Sean Bailey, Alan Bergman, Indiana Jones, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, shouldn't, Bob Chapek, He'll, Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, Josh D'Amaro, Dana Walden, They've, Cowen's, you've, That's, it's, — CNBC's Sarah Whitten, Needman's Martin Organizations: Disney, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Grogan, CNBC Disney, Disney Disney, Hulu, ESPN, Co, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, CNBC, Athletic, Bloomberg, Getty, Marvel, Star Wars, Searchlight, Walt Disney Motion, Disney Entertainment, Century Fox, Sony, Disney's Marvel Studios, Trian Partners, Financial Times, Resorts, Iger Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, Brooklyn , New York, Iger, Parks, Disney

☆ A billionaire helped bring ‘3-Body Problem’ to Netflix. His business partner ensured he never lived to see its premiere
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Lin Qi, a billionaire fan of “The Three-Body Problem,” had big plans to bring his favorite Chinese sci-fi novel to TV, cinema and video-game screens across the world. Xu was sentenced to death for murder by a court in Shanghai on March 22 - the day after the much-anticipated debut of “3 Body Problem” on Netflix. 3 Body Problem. Soon, he was sidelined, with key projects handed to another executive, Zhao Jilong, one of the executives who would later have his drinks poisoned by Xu, according to Caixin. When Netflix announced its adaptation project of “The Three-Body Problem” in September 2020, Lin and Zhao were listed as executive producers, with Xu’s name conspicuously missing.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Lin Qi, ”, Lin, Lin’s, Xu Yao, Xu, Caixin, John Bradley, Jack Rooney, Jess Hong, Jin Cheng, Mark Gatiss, Isaac Newton, Reece Shearsmith, Alan Turing, Jenson Cheng, Kublai Khan, Netflix Xu, China’s, Liu Cixin, Zhao Jilong, Zhao, Yoozoo, “ Xu Yao’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, “, Netflix, Lin’s Yoozoo, Yoozoo Games, Phoenix News Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, pufferfish, Japan, France, United States

Trian claims Disney's board has failed to generate sufficient returns in recent years as subscription streaming losses have mounted and traditional TV subscribers have declined. Early vote countBoth Disney and Trian received support from influential shareholders ahead of Wednesday's meeting. Roughly one-third of Disney's shareholders are retail shareholders, who historically vote in small numbers in annual meetings. The arrangement still raised questions about ValueAct's support for the company and whether Disney's board should have disclosed the prior relationship. WATCH: Disney board battle reaches final moments

Persons: Bob Iger, Mickey Mouse, Valerie Macon, Nelson Peltz, Jay Rasulo, They've, Maria Elena Lagomasino, Michael Froman, Peltz, Ike Perlmutter, Trian, Disney's, Iger, Bob Chapek, Patrick T, Adam Jeffery, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, CNBC's, George Lucas, Laurene Powell Jobs, Lucas, Powell Jobs, Ken Squire, Rowe Price, Rowe, Mason Morfit's, ValueAct, Neuberger Berman, John Ferguson, Rasulo —, Glass Lewis, Iger's, Gorman, Jeremy Darroch, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Heidi Gutman, Lagomasino, shouldn't, Blackwells, Rasulo, Jason Aintabi, John Foley, Jessica Schnell, Craig Hatkoff, Leah Solivan, ValueAct hasn't Organizations: AFP, Getty Images Disney, Voters, Trian Partners, Disney, PepsiCo, Marvel, SEC, Fallon, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC Disney, CNBC, Star Wars, LucasArts, Pixar, BlackRock, Institutional, California Public Employees, Yacktman Asset Management, Saratoga Proxy, ISS, Sky, Trian Fund Management, NBCU, Bank, NBCUniversal, Green, Comcast Locations: Los Angeles, New York

☆ Bob Iger may prevail in Disney’s boardroom showdown, but the battle has not left him unscathed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The battle for the future of Disney is about to reach its epic conclusion. Nelson Peltz, founder and chief executive officer of Trian Fund Management, has continually criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger. The forces that have tormented Iger will be banished to the shadows, exiled outside of the Magic Kingdom for now. The "Partners" statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, at Walt Disney World. The future of Disney is up for grabs in the proxy-fight between Iger and Peltz.

Persons: Nelson Peltz, Bob Iger, Peltz, Jay Rasulo, Rasulo, Disney’s “, Marco Bello, Iger, Bob Chapek, ” Barton Crockett, CNN’s, Samantha Delouya, George Lucas, Laurene Powell Jobs, Morgan, Jamie Dimon, Walt, Roy Disney, Abigail Disney, Ike Perlmutter, Trian, they’ll, Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, Joe Burbank, ”, it’s, King, Hollywood, “ Iger Organizations: New York CNN, Disney, Trian, Management, Netflix, Trian Fund Management, Bloomberg, Rosenblatt Securities, “, Former Marvel Entertainment, Services, Magic Kingdom, Magic, Walt Disney World, Orlando Sentinel, Tribune, Service Locations: New York, Iger

☆ Bob Iger says 'woke' Disney is over, but it may not silence his critics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger wants people to know the company isn't trying to advance a political agenda. It's a message Iger has been keen to send since his return as CEO in November 2022. Peltz made "woke" Disney a plank of his campaign, questioning Marvel's "Black Panther" and "The Marvels" that cast Black and female leads, respectively. Just take the vicious online reactions to its new "Star Wars: The Acolyte" series on Disney+, made by a female showrunner. And with Iger promising the company will lean more on its beloved franchises, Disney is likely to continue being a magnet for criticism from social conservatives.

Persons: Bob Iger, aren't, —, Iger, I've, we'll, Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, Ariel, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, Marvel's, — Iger, — Ben Hart, Star Wars Guy 💫, ake Organizations: Disney, Service, Reuters, Pixar, Florida Gov, Marvel, Financial, Star Wars Locations: Florida

☆ Disney's fight with Nelson Peltz will come to a head tomorrow. Here's where things stand.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A vote for the Disney's slate of board members will show support for Iger's performance as CEO since he returned to lead the company in November 2022. AdvertisementIt's the culmination of months of tussling between Disney and Peltz, who has been waging war against Disney's board since January last year. "When I sold Lucasfilm just over a decade ago, I was delighted to become a Disney shareholder because of my long-time admiration for its iconic brand and Bob Iger's leadership." And proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Service recommended shareholders vote for Peltz, though not Rasulo. Advertisement"We wish the very best to Bob, this management team, and the board," Peltz said on CNBC at the time.

Persons: —, Bob Iger, Nelson Peltz's Trian, that's, Peltz, Jay Rasulo —, Maria Elena Lagomasino, Michael Froman, Gen, Alpha, Jason Schloetzer, BlackRock, Rowe Price, Iger, Roy Disney's, Laurene Powell Jobs, George Lucas, Lucas, Bob Iger's, Donald Duck's, Ludwig Von Drake, Schloetzer, Trian, That's, Neuberger Berman, Ike Perlmutter, he'd Organizations: Service, Disney, Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners, Business, Century Fox, Epic Games, Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, Vanguard, Street Journal, ValueAct Capital, Walt, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, New York Times, California Public Employees, CNBC, Netflix, ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Financial

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