Disney Bond Offer To Enhance $1.6B

Considering how low interest levels are nowadays, it’s clear to see why Disney is joining individuals of companies searching to promote debt. The business states in the prospectus filed within the SEC it must boost $1B from global notes that mature in 2014 and pay an annual interest rate of .875%, and $600M from global notes due in 2041 that pay 4.125%. The cash will probably be useful for “general corporate reasons,” that might include payment of other debt, and “to fund share repurchases.” Moody’s gave the notes an A2 rating, while Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rated them A. BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank will be the lead underwriters. Disney’s offer follows a $1.85B bond purchase in August, together with a $500M purchase in May.

Why 'Shame' Could 'Legitimize' the NC-17 Rating

Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago today. The Queen singer and songwriter had been secretly battling AIDS for four years, announcing that he had contracted the disease on Nov. 23, 1991, one day before he passed away of AIDS-related bronchopneumonia. He was 45.our editor recommendsLady Gaga's Thanksgiving Special Includes Tony Bennett, Turkey Carving (Video)MTV EMAs: Adam Lambert Performs With Queen (Video)Lady Gaga Not Likely to Replace Freddie Mercury on Queen Tour Known for his wide vocal range and unparalleled showmanship, the Zanzibar-born Mercury (nee Farrokh Bulsara) also wrote many of Queen's biggest hits including the six-minute-long rock opus "Bohemian Rhapsody," sports anthems "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" and throwback "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." STORY:Elizabeth Taylor Joins Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley on Highest-Earning Dead Celebrities List "Somebody to Love" and "Fat Bottom Girls" both got the Glee treatment this year, but in many ways, Mercury remains nearly as relevant today as his was throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Just ask Katy Perry, who dressed up as the Queen frontman for her 24th birthday party in 2008, or Lady Gaga, who named herself after a Queen song. American Idol glam rocker Adam Lambert has also cited the magnetic entertainer as a major influence, and perhaps to prove it, stepped in for the late singer at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, performing a medley of Queen hits along with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor. Soon after midnight on Nov. 24, the phrase RIP Freddie Mercury was already trending in the U.S. and worldwide. Of course, what endures, now two decades after his passing, is the music. Queen sold 32 million albums in the U.S., more than half of which were purchased after Mercury's death, while globally, it's estimated that the band has moved some 300 million units. GALLERY: Top 10 Highest Paid Music Artists Currently celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, surviving member Taylor is leading the charge on the Queen Extravaganza contest, which through audition videos submitted on Youtube, aims to put together a Queen tribute tour and guitarist Maycollaborated with Gaga on the MTV Video Music Awardsin August (he recently told NME he finds Gaga "inspiring"). But Mercury's sprit lives along with iconic imagery forever etched in the minds of the early MTV viewers. Here, seven of those moments: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) The three-act mini-rock opera was No. 1 in the band's native England for nine weeks and also gave Queen its first Top 10 U.S. hit. In later years, it would be sung on Wayne's World and American Idol, but perhaps its most immediate impact came by way of a "promotional film," AKA music video, which accompanied the track and showed the world what a rock star looked like. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (1979) Freddie Mercury was fashion-conscious from the start, regularly wearing bodysuits and sequined accoutrements, sometimes makeup, but for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," the singer went for a classic leather ensemble that looks like it came straight from Elvis Presley's 1968 special. And no wonder: the song, a No. 1 hit in the U.S., sounded like it was born of that blues-meets-doo wop era. "Flash" (1980) The band made an early foray into film when it was recruited to compose the soundtrack to the movie Flash Gordon. The first and only single, "Flash's Theme," didn't do gangbusters on the charts but it would become a sort of sonic time capsule of an era when multi-layered harmonies and guitar solos ruled. Decades later, Will Ferrell and Jon Heder would skate to the song in Blades of Glory. "Under Pressure" (1981) A jam session the band had with David Bowie at his studio in Montreux, Switzerland turned into the duet "Under Pressure," which featured the now instantly recognizable bass line (sampled by Vanilla Ice in 1990 for his hit "Ice Ice Baby"). It reached the U.S. Top 40 in 1981 and once again topped the charts in the U.K. The music video, however, shows neither artist as both had touring commitments they couldn't shoot around. "I Want to Break Free" (1984) Freddie Mercury and Co. got themselves banned by MTV for the video to "I Want to Break Free," which featured the guys dressed as women in an homage to hit British soap opera Coronation Street. Somehow, the tribute aspect got lost in translation and the network simply saw the clip as a series of scenes featuring Mercury in a leather mini-skirt and fishnet stockings (the moustache, however, remained). The song failed to crack the U.S. Top 40 but its controversial treatment made for an instant talker in the pre-internet age. "Radio Ga Ga" (1984) The inspiration for pop star Lady Gaga's name was one of Queen's later hits, and a modest one at that. Still, it left an impression by using images from Fritz Lang's 1927 science fiction movie Metropolis for the video and offering a commentary on the death of radio in its lyrics. And there was a sense of reflection, too, as the band traveled through a post-nuclear world while lamenting the old days. Live Aid (1985) Performing to 72,000 at London's Wembley stadium and another 1.9 billion watching on television, Queen's 25-minute greatest hits set instantly went down as one of the most monumental live performances in the history of rock music and fixed the spotlight directly on Mercury, who led the massive crowd in clap- and sing-alongs. More importantly, he and his bandmates played a key role in raising the more than £150 million that went towards famine relief as a result of the event. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Lady Gaga's Fashion Forward Style Related Topics Glee Adam Lambert Katy Perry Lady Gaga

Netflix Shares Face A Difficult Market Among Questions Regarding $400M Refinancing

At the begining of buying and selling Netflix shares are lower about 3.3% from yesterday’s $74.47 close– and teasing with the potential of ending your day ata new 52-week low.Traders continue to be attempting to make feeling of last evening’sannouncement it struck two deals to boost $400M having a warningthat it needs a internet reduction in 2012, a big change from the previous guidance of “several quarters” of deficits. The organization decided to sell $200M in keeping stock, at $70 a share, to accounts handled by T. Rowe Cost Affiliates additionally to theDollar200M convertible notes offer to Technology Crossover Endeavors. Using the deals “we have increased our balance sheet and remain centered on growing our streaming monthly subscriptions and coming back to global profitability after our launch from the U.K. in 2012,” CFO David Wells stated. But several experts state that they’re pessimistic: Caris & Co’s David Burns decreased his cost target to $59 from $77 since Netflix “is delivering the rhetorical signal towards the Street the results of its Q3 pr nightmare haven't turned customer defections, a minimum of not soon.” Lazard Capital Marketplaces’ Barton Crockett states his earnings forecast is under review adding that the organization’s “recent good reputation for quick outlook changes indicates reason to become skeptical.” Janney Capital Marketplaces’ Tony Wible questions Netflix’s decision to boost capital soon after it spent 100s of huge amount of money to repurchase its shares. That “reinforces our view that (Netflix) has been purchasing stock to counterbalance the dilution from the large issuance of equity to the management team, that has strongly offered the stock with lots of options listed as low at $1.50 per share.” Susquehanna Financial Group’s Vasily Karasyov states that experts’ earnings predictions “will need to come lower.”But Credit Suisse’s John Blackledge would be a lonely bull, stating that the refinancing “strengthens (Netflix’s) balance sheet and enhances its financial versatility”although itprobably won’t be usedto finance additional content deals.

L.A. story for Likely producer

NY-based indie film producer Likely Story is expanding with Head of Production and Development Stefanie Azpiazu relocating to open a Los Angeles office. Company announced the move Monday. Azpiazu has been with Likely Story since its inception in 2006, previously working with Likely Story Founder Anthony Bregman at This Is That and Good Machine. ''With the number of projects and filmmakers based on the West Coast growing, there is a definite demand for a team to be based in Los Angeles,'' Bregman said. Likely Story's producing Charlie Kaufman's new film ''Frank or Francis,'' which shoots in February; Bennett Miller's ''Foxcatcher,'' which is aimed for the fall of 2012, as well as new projects by Nicole Holofcener, Jesse Peretz, Lawrence Kasdan. Keith Bunin, Chris Milk and Ann Peacock Likely Story produced Stephen Frears latest film ''Lay the Favorite,'' Peretz' ''Our Idiot Brother,'' Kasdan's ''Darlining Companion'' and Julian Farino's ''The Oranges.'' Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Miss Piggy's Oscar-Worthy Fozzie Bear Impression (VIDEO)

.post-content img {display:none;} There's Miss Piggy the actress, Miss Piggy the singer, and even Miss Piggy the French Vogue editor. But Miss Piggy the impersonator? Everyone's favorite diva has always claimed to be the best at everything, but doing impressions of her fellow Muppets has never been in the cards -- until now. During Moviefone's Muppets Unscripted session, Piggy did an Oscar-worthy impersonation of two of the most popular Muppets around: Fozzie Bear and Animal. Even Kermit was stunned by this hidden talent (one that Piggy will likely be bragging about now that it's out in the open). Check back Monday for more from Moviefone's Muppets Unscripted session. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Justice

The month of the month of january Manley and Nicolas Cage in 'Justice.' A Momentum Pictures (in U.K.) relieve an Endgame Entertainment Co. presentation in colaboration with Aura Film Partnership and Fierce Entertainment from the Endgame Entertainment, Material Pictures and Ram Bergman production. (Worldwide sales: FilmNation, La.) Produced by James D. Stern, Ram Bergman, Tobey Maguire. Executive producers, Douglas E. Hansen, Jenno Topping, Julie Goldstein, Christopher Petzel. Co-producers, Dork Pomier, Lucas Cruz. Directed by Roger Donaldson. Script, Robert Tannen, Yuri Zeltser, in the story by Tannen, Todd Hickey.Will Gerard - Nicolas Cage Laura Gerard - The month of the month of january Manley Simon - Guy Pearce Jimmy - Harold Perrineau Trudy - Jennifer Contractor Lt. Durgan - Xander Berkeley Alan Marsh - Jason Davis Scar - IronE Singleton Cancer - Wayne Pere Det. Eco-friendly - Marcus Lyle Brown Sideburns - Dikran Tulaine Det. Rudeski - Joe ChrestNearly couple of years after cameras folded in New Orleans on "The Hungry Rabbit Jumps," the Nicolas Cage-starring vigilante thriller, now retitled "Justice," has started striking theaters in Europe and Hong Kong. It's not worth the wait: This unconvincing, workmanlike genre piece reps a considerable dip in quality for director Roger Donaldson after his 2008 heist pic "The Lending Company Job." With no release date yet for your U.S., where its title is "Seeking Justice," ancillary reps the pic's best chance for modest recoupment. Located in Blighty as counterprogramming to "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1," the pic acquired just 183,000 ($293,000) from 244 cinemas within the initial few days, showing a fast exit from theaters. Inside the recent "The Next 72 Hrs,Inch audiences rooted for Russell Crowe's British teacher to obtain an unlikely expertise and bust his wife from prison. "Justice" attempts the same trick, casting Cage as nice-guy British teacher Will Gerard, easily dressed in corduroy pants and spectacles. When his music artist wife, Laura (The month of the month of january Manley), is very raped, Will feels their very own powerlessness. Enter shaven-headed, sharp-suited Simon (Guy Pearce), who offers street justice for your crime in exchange for the following favor of vaguely modest proportions. The rapist is going to be summarily carried out. Simon is like his word when he later asks Will to complete some routine surveillance around the guy he claims can be a child molester. Nevertheless the stakes rise when he demands that will murder the suspect in mind. In the contrived passage, Will finds themselves recommended like a factor inside the dying from the local newspaper reporter, held for police interrogation after which it freed having a rogue cop when he unveils his understanding in the vigilante network's code phrase, "The hungry rabbit jumps." Clearly, it calculates he was very best in custody of the children from the children. Despite a couple-part climax, beginning getting a monster truck rally within the New Orleans Superdome, then moving for the abandoned New Orleans Center retail complex, "Justice" lacks the consistent thrills that could allow the audience to indulge its numerous implausibilities. In another questionable choice of roles, Cage is unpersuasive becoming an inner-city schoolteacher, an element that delivers him little leeway to research the loopier shades that have been displayed so entertainingly in "Bad Lieutenant: The avenue for call New Orleans" and "Kick-Ass." As Will's friend and friend, gifted thesp Harold Perrineau isn't given much to make use of, and Pearce (drafted near the shoot start date) doesn't appear sensible in the shadowy Simon character, whose motivation remains obscure, partly because the p.o.v. remains almost exclusively while using protag. One particularly troubling area of the film is its ambivalent perspective on vigilante action, disapproving really its corrupt execution than its essence. Lenser David Tattersall uses compact camera models to capture an authentic flavor of publish-Katrina New Orleans, but such verisimilitude seems wasted round the script credited to Robert Tannen and Yuri Zeltser (working in the story by Tannen and cinematographer Todd Hickey), though due to the extended amount of publish-production, what resemblance the finished film bears for his or her original conception is anyone's guess. Inclusion of moments within the city's newspaper, police department plus an urban secondary school signifies an ambition to supply texture and flavor like "The Wire," clearly an positive goal.Camera (color, wide-screen, HD), David Tattersall editor, Jay Cassidy music, J. Peter Robinson music supervisor, John Houlihan production designer, Dennis Washington art director, Kelly Curley set decorator, Alice Baker costume designer, Caroline Eselin Schaffer appear (Dolby Digital), Pawel Wdowczak supervisory appear editor, Trevor Jolly re-recording mixer, Leslie Shatz effects coordinator, David K. Nami visual effects managers, Dick Edwards, Christopher Bremble visual effects, Invisible Effects, Modern Videofilm, Base-Foreign exchange stunt coordinator, Andy Cheng assistant director, Jonathan McGarry second unit director, Cheng second unit camera, John Peters casting, Mary Vernieu, Venus Kanani. Examined at Courthouse Doubletree Hotel, London, November. 2, 2011. Running time: 105 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

9 Milestones in the Evolution of Robin Williams

In this weekend’s Happy Feet Two, Robin Williams voices Ramn, a South American penguin lothario, and Lovelace, a deep-voiced love guru. So how did a self-described quiet child from Chicago transform himself into one of Hollywood’s most energetic Academy Award winners and skilled impressionists, who pulls double duty in Warner Bros.’s latest animated feature? You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor’s current success. As such, let’s look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Robin Williams. Mork & Mindy (1978) After graduating from Juilliard, Williams moved to Los Angeles where he honed his stand-up routine on the west coast comedy circuit and auditioned for television roles. One such guest part on Happy Days — as Mork, an alien from the planet Ork who helps abduct the Fonz — was such a hit with the show’s creator Gary Marshall that Marshall created a sci-fi sitcom for Williams’s character. Mork & Mindy proved to be the breakthrough project that made Robins a recognizable name and earned him a Golden Globe in 1979. Popeye (1980) Halfway through the four-season run of Mork & Mindy, Williams made his big screen debut as the titular character in Robert Altman’s adaptation of Popeye. (Yes, a live-action musical adaptation of Popeye in which Robin Williams squints and sings “I am what I am” with inflated forearms exists.) Williams reportedly won the role after Dustin Hoffman dropped out. In spite of a respectable effort to bring life to a two-dimensional comic character with a lopsided smile and an obsession with spinach, Popeye earned mixed reviews. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) Following one small success (The World According to Garp) and a trio of forgettable titles (The Best of Times, Club Paradise and Seize the Day), Williams established himself as a legitimate dramatic actor and a box office draw with Barry Levinson’s Vietnam war comedy-drama. As Armed Forces Radio Service DJ Adrian Cronauer, Williams was able to use his trademark rapid-fire monologue style and improvise extensively. Thanks in part to Levinson’s direction (which carefully pulled Williams out of his stand-up shell) and the well-formed script, Williams was able to shed his fast-talking persona for a fully-fleshed character by the end of the film. Good Morning, Vietnam earned Williams his first Academy Award nomination. Aladdin (1992) After solidifying himself as one of Hollywood’s most underestimated dramatic actors in Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King, Williams established his talent as a voice actor in Aladdin. Animator Eric Goldberg was reportedly so determined to get the actor on board as the Genie that he animated the Genie doing some of Williams’s stand-up routines. The actor was so impressed that he signed onto the project, even agreeing to participate for scale pay as long as his voice was not used for merchandising and his character took up less than 25% of the film’s promotional materials. When the studio reneged on some contractual stipulations that Williams had tried to enforce, the actor stopped supporting the project and refused to work with Disney again — until years later, after chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg had been fired. In addition to being a milestone for the actor, Aladdin proved to be a landmark for animated films in general as it was the first title to be advertised on the strength of its voice actors.