ALL-NEW TOY LINE LANDS AT RETAIL FEBRUARY 20, 2026 NINTENDO AND ILLUMINATION’S THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE ARRIVES IN THEATERS APRIL 1, 2026 SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) announced today the renewal of its partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, Illumination and Nintendo on an all-new collection of figures, playsets, plush and more inspired by Nintendo and Illumination’s new animated film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which arrives i ...

Disney's Financial Struggles - The Walt Disney Company reported a $170 million loss from its live-action Snow White remake, despite a global box office gross of $205.7 million [2][10] - The film's production budget reached $336.5 million, making it one of Disney's most expensive projects, influenced by extensive reshoots and a fire on set [10] - After accounting for $64.9 million in government tax reimbursements, the net production cost was $271.6 million, while the studio's share of box office revenue was estimated at $102.9 million, resulting in a significant financial deficit [3][10] Film Reception and Controversy - The film faced criticism and controversy during its development and release, with issues cited including CGI character designs and polarizing statements from the lead actress [4] - Snow White became the fifth-lowest grossing film among Disney's 21 live-action remakes, indicating a weak audience response [4]

Group 1 - Sony Group Corporation is currently considered one of the best foreign stocks to buy, with a price target adjustment from JPY5,100 to JPY4,250 while maintaining a Buy rating [1][3] - The company reported strong Q3 FY2025 earnings, with operating profit increasing by approximately 22% year-on-year to ¥515 billion and net income growing by 11% to ¥377.3 billion [4][5] - Revenue for the quarter was ¥3.71 trillion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of around 1% and slightly exceeding forecasts [4][5] Group 2 - Key segments such as Imaging & Sensing Solutions, Music, and Game & Network Services showed standout performances, contributing to the overall revenue growth [3][5] - Management attributed the earnings beat to growth in software and digital services, alongside higher image sensor sales, while the Sony Pictures Entertainment division experienced a decline in revenue and operating income [5][6] - Following the positive results, management raised its revenue forecast to approximately ¥12.30 trillion and operating profit to about ¥1.54 trillion, along with an increase in annual net profit guidance to around ¥1.13 trillion [6]

Core Insights - Kathleen Grace has been appointed as Lionsgate's first Chief AI Officer, marking a significant step in the studio's AI strategy [1][2] Group 1: Role and Responsibilities - In her new role, Grace will collaborate with Lionsgate's Vice Chairman Michael Burns and senior leaders to lead the studio's AI strategy, enhancing creative processes and operational efficiencies [2] - Grace will report directly to Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and will be part of the senior decision-making team [3] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Lionsgate announced a partnership with AI research company Runway in September 2024 to develop a proprietary AI model aimed at supporting filmmakers [3] - The studio aims to create new efficiencies in production, marketing, distribution, and administrative operations while protecting intellectual property [2] Group 3: Background and Expertise - Grace previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Vermillio, focusing on licensing and protecting intellectual property in the AI space [4] - Her experience includes leading New Form, a digital studio, where she developed over 40 pilots and sold nearly 25 series to various networks [5]

Core Insights - The documentary "Melania" about First Lady Melania Trump is exceeding box office expectations, projected to earn $7.04 million in its opening weekend, ranking third overall behind "Send Help" and "Iron Lung" [1] - Amazon's acquisition of "Melania" for $40 million, along with an additional $35 million for promotion, raises concerns about profitability despite the film's strong opening performance [2] - Critics suggest Amazon's bid was more about political favor than box office potential, with a significant margin over Disney's bid [3] Financial Aspects - The documentary's opening weekend earnings of $7.04 million surpassed pre-release estimates of $3 to $5 million, but profitability remains uncertain due to high acquisition and promotion costs [2] - Amazon's total investment in "Melania" amounts to $75 million, which is substantial for a documentary [2] Critical Reception - "Melania" has received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with a score of 7% on Metacritic and 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating poor critical reception [4] - The film has been described as a "carefully stage-managed chronicle" of Melania Trump's life, suggesting a lack of depth in its content [6] Strategic Implications - Amazon MGM's head of domestic theatrical distribution views the film's performance as a starting point for a longer lifecycle, anticipating significant viewership on Amazon's Prime streaming service [7]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street traders are increasingly optimistic about Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) being sold to Netflix, with a significant reduction in short interest in the stock, indicating a shift in sentiment towards the company's future prospects [1][6]. Group 1: Short Interest Trends - WBD had experienced a rise in short interest throughout the year, making it one of the most heavily shorted entertainment stocks [2]. - Short interest has decreased from 6% in July to just 3% of the float, with traders covering approximately 30 million shares over the past month [7]. Group 2: Company Performance and Strategy - Under CEO David Zaslav's leadership, WBD has made significant improvements, including making HBO Max profitable, producing successful films, and reducing debt [5][6]. - The company's stock price has recovered from near penny stock levels to around $12, reflecting improved investor confidence [6]. Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - Despite the positive sentiment, there are concerns regarding the regulatory approval process for the potential sale to Netflix, which could take up to two years [8][10]. - Officials in the EU and UK are also expressing concerns about Netflix's market power, which could impact the deal's timeline and lead to a resurgence in short interest if delays occur [11].

Core Viewpoint - Lionsgate Studios has appointed former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as a director on the company's board effective immediately [1] Company Summary - The appointment of Steven Mnuchin is expected to bring significant financial expertise to Lionsgate Studios [1]

Group 1: Film Overview - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an animated film based on the Super Mario Bros. universe, set to be released worldwide by Universal Pictures in April 2026 [1][3] - The film's release date has been moved from April 3, 2026, to April 1, 2026, in the US and many global markets, with Japan's release scheduled for April 24, 2026 [2] - The film follows the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide [3] Group 2: Production Details - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo [3] - The film is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with a screenplay by Matthew Fogel and music composed by Brian Tyler [4] Group 3: Cast Information - The voice cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, and Brie Larson as Rosalina among others [4] Group 4: Company Background - Illumination - Illumination, founded in 2007 by Chris Meledandri, is a leading producer of animated films, known for franchises like Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros. Movie [5] - Illumination's films have grossed nearly $11 billion worldwide, showcasing their global appeal and cultural relevance [5] Group 5: Company Background - Nintendo - Nintendo Co., Ltd., established in 1889, has evolved from manufacturing playing cards to becoming a major player in the gaming industry [6][7] - Nintendo has sold over 6 billion video games and more than 870 million hardware units globally, creating iconic franchises such as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon [7]

Core Insights - Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) have announced a landmark global Pay-1 licensing deal, marking an industry-first for Pay-1 rights, which will allow SPE's feature films to stream on Netflix worldwide after their theatrical and home entertainment windows [8] - The new Pay-1 arrangement will begin rolling out later this year, with full global availability expected by early 2029 [8] - Netflix currently holds Pay-1 rights to SPE's feature films in select territories, including the U.S., Germany, and Southeast Asia, with popular titles such as Uncharted and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse [8] Netflix's Perspective - Netflix emphasizes that providing exclusive access to Sony's films enhances the value of their subscriptions for members globally [8] - The company is excited to expand its offerings of iconic film franchises and original content to a worldwide audience [2][8] Sony's Perspective - Sony Pictures Television views the new Pay-1 deal as a significant enhancement of their partnership with Netflix, reinforcing the appeal of their theatrical releases to a global audience [5] - The deal highlights Sony's independence and ability to create valuable opportunities for stakeholders and partners [6] Upcoming Titles - Some of the first SPE feature films to stream on Netflix as part of this deal include The Nightingale, Buds, The Legend of Zelda (live-action), Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and a quartet of Beatles films directed by Sam Mendes [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is likely to amend its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to an all-cash bid, which could expedite the approval process from shareholders [1][2]. Group 1: Netflix's Offer - Netflix's current deal to acquire WBD's assets, including HBO Max and the Warner Bros. film studio, is valued at $27.75 per WBD share, translating to an equity value of $72 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion [1]. - An all-cash offer would allow WBD shareholders to vote on the deal more quickly, potentially moving the vote up to late February or early March [2][3]. Group 2: Shareholder Voting Process - Under the existing agreement, the shareholder vote is expected to occur in the spring or early summer, with stock-based deals requiring more financial disclosures and time for approval [3]. - Transitioning to an all-cash offer would streamline the voting process, reducing the time and expense associated with the approval [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Paramount Skydance is actively pursuing a hostile acquisition of WBD, having filed a lawsuit to obtain information regarding WBD's board's rejection of its $30-per-share offer in favor of Netflix [4]. - Paramount argues that its offer is superior in value, particularly considering the estimated worth of WBD's TV networks, and has sought to strengthen its bid with support from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison [5].