Latest news with #DreamWorks
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Dean DeBlois Is Hopeful Cate Blanchett Will Return for ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2'
io9 recently sat down with How to Train Your Dragon filmmaker Dean DeBlois to chat about being the steward of DreamWorks and Universal Pictures' dragon franchise. In our conversation, when discussing how awesome it was to see Gerard Butler reprise his role as Hiccup's dad Stoic, we brought up other actors we'd like to see reprise roles or cameo in live-action, including original stars Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Cate Blanchett. DeBlois revealed to io9 that he hopes Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett will reprise her role as Valka in the announced upcoming live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon 2. 'We are keeping our fingers crossed,' he said, 'But yeah, I don't know… it's a little early to tell because I'm just writing the script.' Fans of the animated film know how big of a deal it would be to see Blanchett return to the franchise in the pivotal role. It's an early reveal in the sequel that Hiccup's mom Valka, who is mentioned a few times in the live-action film, is alive. And it's a twist that propels the stakes in the animated sequel which picks up five years after the events of the first film. Like Butler, Blanchett could easily slip back into the role and give us another undisputed fantasy genre queen performance to follow The Lord of the Rings' Galadriel and Thor: Ragnarok's Hela. However, we will note that Blanchett has recently talked about wanting to retire, telling the Radio Times last month she has stopped referring to herself as an actress: 'It's because I'm giving up… My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it. I am serious about giving up acting. [There are] a lot of things I want to do with my life.' As far as the original Hiccup and Astrid—Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera—coming back, that would have to be more of a cameo situation. They're older than the characters they played, and Hiccup and Astrid were re-cast with Mason Thames and Nico Parker for the live-action movie. 'We'll see what happens. Jay and America have been really supportive; in fact they weighed in on the casting when I was down to my top three Astrids and Hiccups. I shared them [with Jay and America], just to hear what they had to say, so they've been super supportive,' DeBlois said. 'But I think for their schedules it just wouldn't work out for this movie, but maybe in the future.' How to Train Your Dragon opens June 13.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Did David Geffen Really Risk Billions By Skipping A Prenup?
Contributing author: Morgan Fraser Mouchette David Geffen is a triple threat—a record executive, film producer, and talent agent—but was he a threat to his own multibillion-dollar empire when he tied the knot without a prenup? In March of 2023, Mr. Geffen married his personal trainer, David Armstrong. It was a union that drew intense speculation, due to their 50-year age gap—Mr. Geffen was 80 to Mr. Armstrong's 30—as well as rumors about Mr. Armstrong's past and evidence that he had changed his name several times (Mr. Armstrong also goes by Donovan Michaels). Still, love is love, and the couple enjoyed a lifestyle befitting Mr. Geffen's extreme wealth, at least until they didn't. Two years later, in February of 2025, they separated, and Mr. Geffen officially filed for divorce in Los Angeles, CA, in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Though the shock factor of this May-December relationship had worn off, news of the divorce brought a surprising twist—that the couple had not signed a prenuptial agreement. Thanks to a vast business empire including DreamWorks Pictures, Asylum Records and Geffen Records, Mr. Geffen's net worth is valued at over $8 billion. However, it is unlikely that Mr. Armstrong will be entitled to a substantial percentage of that fortune in their divorce. California is a community property state that generally divides marital property equally upon divorce, but most of Mr. Geffen's wealth was accumulated at the height of his career—long before his marriage to Mr. Armstrong. Thus, the bulk of his assets would likely be considered separate property. As he is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations at his labels, his current income is primarily earned via his role at Geffen Advisors and through prior investments, which significantly limits the assets his soon-to-be ex-spouse could be entitled to. From my experience working with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, I would speculate that Mr. Geffen's wealth may have also been secured through irrevocable trusts prior to marriage, another way of shielding assets from divorce. This strategy is common for many reasons: the reduction of estate taxes, privacy of financial records, and protection from legal proceedings such as divorce. Given that Mr. Geffen was 80 years old, his estate and assets may have long ago been structured to account for divorce and death, mitigating the need for a prenup. Due to the aforementioned factors, the most likely entitlement for Mr. Armstrong would be spousal support. However, since this marriage was only two years long, the support would be temporary or rehabilitative, confined by law to one year rather than lifelong alimony. In accounting for the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the couple, the courts will likely provide Mr. Armstrong with a small percentage to adapt in his post-divorce transition. All told, this would amount to just a sliver of Mr. Geffen's total wealth, though it could still be considered quite a payday for the former fitness instructor who, reportedly, also spent time as a go-go dancer in Miami. Mr. Armstrong has responded to the divorce petition, stating, 'The exact nature and extent of separate property assets and obligations are unknown at this time.' He further stressed that he 'reserves the right to amend this Response when the same is ascertained,' which leads me to believe that he may push back in an attempt to gain a higher payout. Anonymous statements from an alleged ex-girlfriend of Mr. Armstrong have added to this speculation, expressing that his intentions have historically been driven by the desire for money and fame, which were certainly within his reach during this marriage. Mr. Geffen is a titan of empire and likely would have recognized that prenuptial agreements are standard business practice, begging the question: why would he opt out? For starters, Mr. Geffen may have felt confident that his exposure upon divorce or even death was already limited. Other common reasons for foregoing a prenup include the desire to maintain privacy, an underestimation of financial risks in a marriage, or simply being too blinded by love. In this particular case, the couple's age gap could have also been a factor, as Mr. Geffen may have felt the need to demonstrate trust to Mr. Armstrong. Conversely, he may have had confidence in his control over their relationship dynamics. With the divorce proceedings ongoing, it remains to be seen whether Mr. Geffen's lack of a prenup will work in his favor. Even if he comes out relatively unscathed, it should be noted that such an outcome is an exception, not the rule. A relationship is akin to a business investment, and regardless of financial status, should be treated like one. Working with a matrimonial attorney and a holistic financial advisory team is the only foolproof way to safeguard your legacy in the event of divorce. Morgan Fraser Mouchette, Partner in the New York City office of Blank Rome and Vice Chair of the Matrimonial and Family Law Group, handles complex matrimonial matters for high-net-worth and high-profile clients. She provides individuals and families with tailored and strategic support to navigate and move on from life's most difficult outcomes, including divorce.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Dog Man: When will animated film release online? Here's streaming release date, plot, where to watch and characters
Streaming Release Date Book Series Adaptation Plot and Characters Live Events Box Office Success and Production Team FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Peacock has confirmed the exclusive release of Dog Man, the animated film from DreamWorks, on May 30. The movie is based on the popular book series by Dav made the announcement on Wednesday morning. The streaming platform will release Dog Man exclusively on May 30. The film features voice performances by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery and animated movie is adapted from Dav Pilkey's bestselling book series. Pilkey is known for creating Captain Underpants. The story begins with a loyal police dog and his human officer. They both suffer injuries during duty. A strange surgery merges them into one being. This leads to the creation of Dog Man tries to adjust to his new identity. He wants to gain approval from his boss, voiced by Lil Rel Howery. The main enemy is Petey the Cat, voiced by Pete Davidson. Petey wants to clone himself to increase his evil power. A surprise twist happens when the cloned kitten bonds with Dog Man. This brings a new message about family and Man was released in theaters in January. It made over $143 million worldwide. Peter Hastings wrote and directed the film. He has worked on projects like The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants and Pinky and the Brain. He also voices the lead character. The cast includes Isla Fisher, Lucas Hopkins Calderon and Ricky Gervais. Karen Foster produced the film. Dav Pilkey is listed as executive Hastings, the director of the movie, provides the voice for the character Dog Man tells the story of a police dog fused with a human officer, who must stop a villain and learns the value of family.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dog Man: When will animated film release online? Here's streaming release date, plot, where to watch and characters
Peacock will begin streaming the animated film Dog Man on May 30. Based on Dav Pilkey's book series, the film follows a police dog and officer turned into one being. Dog Man faces off against a villain while discovering unexpected friendship and the meaning of family. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Streaming Release Date Book Series Adaptation Plot and Characters Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Box Office Success and Production Team FAQs Peacock has confirmed the exclusive release of Dog Man, the animated film from DreamWorks, on May 30. The movie is based on the popular book series by Dav made the announcement on Wednesday morning. The streaming platform will release Dog Man exclusively on May 30. The film features voice performances by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery and animated movie is adapted from Dav Pilkey's bestselling book series. Pilkey is known for creating Captain Underpants. The story begins with a loyal police dog and his human officer. They both suffer injuries during duty. A strange surgery merges them into one being. This leads to the creation of Dog Man tries to adjust to his new identity. He wants to gain approval from his boss, voiced by Lil Rel Howery. The main enemy is Petey the Cat, voiced by Pete Davidson. Petey wants to clone himself to increase his evil power. A surprise twist happens when the cloned kitten bonds with Dog Man. This brings a new message about family and Man was released in theaters in January. It made over $143 million worldwide. Peter Hastings wrote and directed the film. He has worked on projects like The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants and Pinky and the Brain. He also voices the lead character. The cast includes Isla Fisher, Lucas Hopkins Calderon and Ricky Gervais. Karen Foster produced the film. Dav Pilkey is listed as executive Hastings, the director of the movie, provides the voice for the character Dog Man tells the story of a police dog fused with a human officer, who must stop a villain and learns the value of family.
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
The Tech That Drives Business Innovation: Lenovo and DreamWorks
DreamWorks Animation is deepening its collaboration with Lenovo, naming the company its preferred compute services, workstation, and solutions provider. This marks a milestone in a trusted partnership now strengthened by Lenovo's solutions and services. By bringing together devices, data center infrastructure, and services into a seamless Lenovo ecosystem, DreamWorks has the compute power to scale with the ever-growing demands of its artistic and technical teams -- an essential advantage in an increasingly dynamic landscape. At the core of this collaboration is a shared commitment to service excellence, ensuring DreamWorks remains supported through every business strategic services and solutions have already delivered a quantifiable impact to DreamWorks' production pipelines and business infrastructure:• A 20% performance increase was achieved using Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling, improving render speeds and enabling faster iteration cycles.• A 25% performance increase of animation programs running on the ThinkStation™ P620s compared to previous workstations, leading to faster loading times and an overall better artist experience.• With 98% utilization in its data center and 300 million compute hours for The Wild Robot, Lenovo infrastructure scaled to meet unprecedented creative demands.'Based on our long-standing relationship and Lenovo's consistent delivery excellence, expanding our collaboration was a natural next step,' said Kate Swanborg, SVP of Technology Communications and Strategic Alliances, DreamWorks Animation. 'This deepens our collaboration and gives DreamWorks the flexibility and operational scale we need to fuel our business ambitions and deliver world-class filmmaking.''This expanded relationship underscores the vital role of advanced, scalable technologies and services in powering complex creative workflows and meeting the demands of modern content production,' added Ken Wong, Executive Vice President and President, Solutions and Services Group, Lenovo. 'It highlights the strategic impact of a trusted technology partnership in delivering the performance, reliability, and innovation required to push the boundaries of what's possible in filmmaking and what's possible in business.'Unified Innovation: Expanding the Lenovo–DreamWorks Technology EcosystemFrom strategy to 24/7 operations, Lenovo delivers more than just high-performance hardware -- it provides a services-first ecosystem that keeps DreamWorks' technology teams focused. Lenovo's scalable service model covers everything from day-to-day support to critical artist compute deployment, ensuring that enterprise environments like DreamWorks have the tools, agility, and responsiveness needed at every stage of production.• ThinkStation™ and ThinkPad™ P Series Workstations – designed to deliver the performance and responsiveness required in any setting, including modern film production, making them ideal for artists, technical directors, and other professionals.• ThinkSystem™ Servers and HPC Infrastructure – powering compute-intensive rendering and animation pipelines.• NEW: TruScale™ Infrastructure as a Service – enabling DreamWorks to scale compute resources on demand while avoiding large capital expenditures. The offering supports the full ThinkSystem™ and ThinkAgile™ portfolio and is tailored to align infrastructure capacity with production TruScale™ allows DreamWorks to retain the control and security of on-premises infrastructure while benefiting from 24/7 proactive monitoring, managed services, and expert support. As part of its services portfolio, Lenovo also supports DreamWorks' sustainability goals -- helping retire outdated systems and transition to more energy-efficient Infrastructure is only part of the story. DreamWorks depends on Lenovo's Premier Support Plus for round-the-clock help, fast fixes, and minimal downtime. In a high-pressure creative environment, responsive support and expert planning are essential to reducing complexity and helping teams meet aggressive production Performance: Technology That Moves at the Speed of ImaginationDreamWorks' partnership with Lenovo is a story of creative ambition brought to life through cutting-edge technology. During its most technically demanding productions, DreamWorks relied on Lenovo's high-performance computing (HPC) solution—featuring Neptune™ liquid cooling—to accelerate workflows and scale rendering. Neptune™ liquid cooling boosted core performance within the pre-existing data center space, enhancing both energy efficiency and system stability, and enabled the studio to do more with less. Just as critical was the ability to iterate in real time. With Lenovo's infrastructure, artists could explore, refine, and bring complex digital environments to life with greater speed and professional services have also enabled DreamWorks to scale quickly and smoothly. A HPC deployment expected to take a week was completed in just 1.5 days. From custom hardware integration to white-glove service and proactive support, every deployment is built for seamless execution and immediate robust technology and services foundation now supports a bold new slate of DreamWorks films, including The Bad Guys 2 (August 2025) and the newly announced Forgotten Island (September 2026). It will also play a central role in the creation of Shrek 5 (December 2026)—further demonstrating Lenovo's impact on some of the studio's most iconic and technically ambitious ahead, Lenovo supports DreamWorks in streamlining complex operational and infrastructure processes as well as predictive analytics and intelligent workflows --powered by Lenovo's AI-optimized infrastructure that includes workstations, data center systems, and TruScale services. While DreamWorks does not use AI in the generation of its imagery, the studio is researching its potential to increase production pipeline efficiency to further enable their artists to focus on their creativity. This integrated ecosystem would bridge individual creativity with end-to-end studio orchestration, helping DreamWorks move from concept to screen with greater speed, agility, and innovation.'This extension of the Lenovo partnership is a key component of our technology strategy,' said Bill Ballew, CTO for DreamWorks Animation. 'The Lenovo hardware solutions are incredibly powerful, and we are now looking forward to engaging with their AI teams to identify solutions that will optimize our compute infrastructure even further.' 'As production strategy evolves, the Lenovo-DreamWorks partnership serves as a blueprint for how enterprises can leverage integrated technology to scale intelligently and meet the demands of creative and operational excellence,' Wong added.
