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Christopher Nolan Sounds Alarm On Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal And AI Threats: 'Worrying Time For Hollywood'

Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 10:16 IST Nolan Sounds Industry Alarm Over Studio Consolidation And Streaming Dominance Hollywood is at a crossroads, and Christopher Nolan is front and center. While the acclaimed filmmaker works on his ambitious adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, he is also navigating his first year as president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), represe nting 20,000 directors and crew members during what he calls a "very worrying time for the industry." In his first interview as DGA president since being elected in September 2025, Nolan addressed a host of challenges facing filmmakers and crew: declining employment, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix or Paramount, which could reshape streaming and threaten the future of theatrical distribution. "We have very, very significant concerns about how this is all going to happen," Nolan said. "I think it's a very worrying ti...

Sydney Sweeney climbs Hollywood sign to hang up bras for lingerie line promo, could face charges

Sydney Sweeney might be finding herself in hot water again, just as the backlash to her 2025 American Eagle campaign was dying down. This time, Sweeney could be getting in trouble with the law rather than just dealing with public opinion. A trip to the Hollywood sign for promotion of her upcoming lingerie line could spell trouble for Sweeney due to a lack of proper approval, TMZ reported. According to the outlet, the Euphoria star obtained a permit from FilmLA to shoot at the Hollywood sign, but she wasn't allowed to touch or climb it without prior approval from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which owns the sign. But Sweeney did more than just touch the sign; footage obtained by TMZ shows the actress being filmed by her production team as she climbs her way to the top of the Hollywood sign's letters under the darkness of night. Once there, she and her crew hang up a clothesline of bras along the letters, with the actress laughing as she happily surveys her work. Sydn...

Sydney Sweeney could face charges over Hollywood sign stunt

LOS ANGELES - Actress Sydney Sweeney could face legal issues after climbing the iconic Hollywood sign and hanging dozens of bras over it.  What we know: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce could potentially file a police report seeking charges such as trespassing or even vandalism. According to TMZ , Sweeney got a permit from FilmLA to shoot the Hollywood Sign, but she did not have permission to touch or climb the sign. In a statement to various media outlets, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Nissen said Sweeney did not receive permission from the chamber for the filming effort. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the image of the Hollywood Sign, so that anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so," Nissen said, adding that the chamber "did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production ...

Actress Sydney Sweeney climbs up the Hollywood sign to hang up bras

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Zootopia 2 becomes Hollywood's highest-grossing animated film of all time

Zootopia 2 has become Hollywood's highest-grossing animated film of all time. The Walt Disney Animation Studios film — also known as Zootropolis 2 in some countries — has earned US$1.7 billion (S$2.1 billion) at the global box office, dethroning Pixar Animation Studios' Inside Out 2, which made US$1.69 billion after it was released in 2024. Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, said in a statement: "This milestone belongs first and foremost to the fans around the world whose enthusiasm made it possible. "We're incredibly proud of our filmmakers... Zootopia 2 is an extraordinary achievement, and we're grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life." The movie is ninth on the list of highest-grossing films ever worldwide, behind likes of 1997's Titanic, 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and the Avatar film franchise. However, China's Ne Zha 2 is the top-grossing animated film worldwide after it too...

Hollywood unions alarmed by Netflix's $72 billion Warner Bros deal

Dec 5 : Hollywood unions and theater owners on Friday sounded the alarm over Netflix's proposed $72 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, warning the deal would cut jobs, concentrate power and reduce theatrical movie releases if the deal passes regulatory review. The deal would place the streaming giant's HBO brands under the Netflix umbrella and also hand control of the historic Warner Bros studio over to Netflix, which has already upended Hollywood by hastening the shift from movie releases in cinemas to home streaming. Netflix, the force behind "Stranger Things" and "Squid Game," could gain control of marquee Warner Bros titles such as "Batman" and "Casablanca."  "This merger must be blocked," the Writers Guild of America East and West said in a statement. "The world's largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent." The deal faces an...

How Valentino Made Hollywood the Enduring Obsession of the Fashion World

At Variety, we talk a lot about the soft power of the red carpet. We live in an age where "image architect" is a vaunted job title, thanks to the serious economic and cultural impact the right look can offer stars and brands. We can largely thank Valentino Garavani, who died at 93 on Monday, for creating this mutually beneficial relationship. In the late '70s, European fashion houses became global enterprises. As the designer of deeply glamorous and dreamlike gowns, Mr. Valentino (as he was known) saw the writing on the wall. Celebrities and artists — particularly actresses — would come to reinvent how fashion captivated culture and commerce. His muses are renowned, from Jackie Kennedy to Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts to Cate Blanchett. Celebrated documentary filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer (above, far right) chronicled the designer's opulent lifestyle and pioneering spirit in the 2008 movie "Valentino: The Last Emperor." T...

Gwyneth Paltrow opens up about her comeback to movies after 7 years with Marty Supreme

Gwyneth Paltrow confessed to having been a bit insecure about whether she still had it when filming Marty Supreme, and it is a different world in moviemaking than the one she left Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow has made her return to the big screen after a seven-year hiatus. She has been doing the kind of independent moviemaking she says has always been her favorite. She features in a supporting performance in Marty Supreme, reports 'Deadline'. Read More As Kay Stone, a former actress now living another life as the wife of a business mogul (played by none other than Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary in his acting debut), she proves she hasn't lost a beat in terms of creating fascinating, three-dimensional characters. As per 'Deadline', Marty Supreme broke records when it opened in a limited six-theatre platform run last weekend, and the critically praised movie that stars Timoth...

Hollywood's fading charm in China -- and why US tariffs are making it worse

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