The Band Perry Announce They're Taking a 'Creative Break'

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor German film and TV distribution and licensing company Telepool, which is owned by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook, is moving into lead producing movies and series, its CEO Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann tells Variety exclusively in her first interview since joining the company in January. Munich-based Telepool is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Wednesday, and although it has a barrel-load of experience in selling, distributing, licensing, financing and co-producing movies and series, this shift into initiating and lead producing represents a significant step for the company. It also forms part of Westbrook’s broader strategy for international expansion, which – in part – lay behind its acquisition of Telepool in December 2021.

K.J. Yossman Fremantle U.K. CEO Simon Andreae has stepped down from the company, he confirmed today. He has been with Fremantle for eight years. In a company-wide memo, Andreae cited “challenges to my health” as part of the reason for stepping back. He has said he plans to focus his time on his health, family and a “smaller portfolio of projects.” A spokesperson for Fremantle declined to comment on Andreae’s successor, simply saying: “A replacement will be announced soon.” Read Andreae’s email below:

When "American Idol" was revived in 2018 on ABC, it came with a new judging panel that included Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. It was a fresh start for the show on a new network, but over the past few months, "Teenage Dream" singer Perry has been under fire for harsh critiques, earning her comparisons to the original "mean" judge, Simon Cowell. The most notable instance of Perry’s so-called harsh judgments came in March, when she was accused of "mom-shaming" contestant Sara Beth Liebe in the audition room.

A family fundraiser has been launched to help a Perth boy who suffered serious life-changing injuries as a youngster get out and about.

West Lothian College workers could be about to take strike action following a “derisory” pay offer.

A new report by the Work and Pensions Committee has found that the health assessments system used by people who cannot work or face extra costs due to disability or ill-health to access vital benefits “continues to let down those who rely on it”. However, the committee of cross-party MPs, led by chair Sir Stephen Timms MP, proposes several “quick and easy wins” to help restore confidence in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and “drive down the high rate of decisions reversed on appeal”.

Rangers are said to be looking at a move for Nantes winger Marcus Coco on a free at the end of the season, as suggested by French reports.

An incredible Lanarkshire woman who has carried out some “epic fundraising” for a platoon of Army cadets is the latest recipient of the Wishaw Press’ Say it with Flowers Award.

NBCU and Sky owner Comcast has invested in James Murdoch’s Bodhi Tree Systems, which in turn is becoming a key player in a new-look Viacom18.

Guillermo del Toro is getting ready to make a new film, this time, adapting one of the world’s most famous stories. Del Toro appears to be casting roles in “Frankenstein,” a film based on Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel.

Paul Scholes branded referee Felix Zwayer’s decision to caution Bruno Fernandes in Manchester United’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Sevilla “ridiculous”.

Paul Scholes believes Lisandro Martinez will be a 'huge miss' after the Manchester United defender was carried off the pitch in a concerning moment against Sevilla.

Police have issued an appeal for CCTV footage after a spate of 'vehicle interferences' in an area of Bury.

NMIXX, has signed with a new label.Today (April 14), South Korean news publication Sports Kyunghyang reported that ex-NMIXX member Jinni has signed with a new agency called United Artist Production (UAP).In addition, the outlet also reported that UAP has inked a management collaboration deal with Sublime Artist Agency, home to Tiffany Young, Jackson Wang and more.Sublime Artist Agency has since confirmed the news in a statement to Star News. “Jinni recently signed an exclusive contract with UAP and we have decided to work together through the MOU collaboration,” the agency said.“We will provide generous support to UAP’s artist Jinni’s global activities so she can showcase her multitude of talents and potential, and we are delighted to be able to demonstrate our synergy together,” it added.UAP has since opened Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts, where they refer to the K-pop singer under the modified moniker of “Jini”.Jinni left NMIXX and JYP Entertainment in December 2022, less than ten months after the girl group made their debut in February of the same year.At the time, JYP Entertainment said that Jinni was leaving “due to personal circumstances”.

DAWN has opened up about his public breakup with HyunA and how he feels now.Last December, DAWN and HyunA took to their personal Instagrams to announce in now-deleted posts that they had split after a six-year relationship. The duo had began dating sometime in 2016, while both idols were signed to CUBE Entertainment, and subsequently announced their romance in 2018.DAWN has since opened up about the breakup, saying at it was initially “very difficult to deal with”.

Mip TV is just around the corner and, as ever, the content will be king. Here, Deadline walks you through seven of the buzziest dramas set for the Croisette, featuring police thrillers, a Royal Family docu-drama and Beta Film’s latest about the MS Estonia shipwreck. Read on for the best-in-class projects heading to Cannes for the April 17-19 confab.

EXCLUSIVE: Simon Andreae has resigned as the Chief Executive of Fremantle UK with immediate effect, Deadline can reveal.

Thania Garcia On the heels of the Band Perry’s hiatus announcement, co-founder Kimberly Perry has signed to Records Nashville/Columbia Records in pursuit of a solo career. “From the moment I met the team at Records, their appreciation for my journey and my vision for the future as a solo artist has been overwhelming,” Perry commented about the signing. “Everything came together so organically, and it felt right from the very start.” Based in Nashville, Perry will release a new body of work that “promises to be her most honest and intimate,” per the press release. 

A temporary break. The Band Perry announced that they are taking a hiatus as a group so they can focus on their own projects.

The Band Perry is officially breaking up.

Grandson has confirmed details of his second album ‘I Love You, I’m Trying’ and shared new single ‘Drones’ – check it out below.‘I Love You, I’m Trying’ is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Death Of An Optimist’ and is due for release May 5 via the legendary Fueled By Ramen.“I’m painting the intimate portrait of myself I know how – covering themes of self harm, family trauma, the hidden side of life on the road, and so much more,” grandson said about the record.“This is the album that 16 year old me needed,” he continued. “This is the album I was scared to write and the album fans of mine deserve to hear. Above all, this is the album where I face a big question: can I handle the changes life throws at me, and if this all that there is to life, can it be enough to be happy?”The announcement comes alongside aggy new single ‘Drones’.“’Drones’ is a twisting, spiralling journey through the lies we tell ourselves to get through the day when the hard truth may bury us,” Grandson explained.“I wanted to pay homage to bands like Tool and System Of A Down [who are] known for unpredictable time signatures but bring 808s and hip hop into it.”‘I Love You, I’m Trying’ tracklist: 1. ‘Two Along Their Way’ 2. ‘Eulogy’ 3. ‘Something To Hide’ 4.’’Drones’ 5. ‘I Love You, I’m Trying’ 6.’Half My Heart’ 7. ‘When the Bomb Goes’ 8. ‘Enough’ 9. ‘Murderer’ 10. ‘I Will Be Here When You’re Ready To Wake Up’ (ft. Wafia) 11. ‘Heather’ 12 ‘Stuck Here With Me’A post shared by grandson (@grandson)Grandson will be supporting the release of ‘I Love You, I’m Trying’ with a UK headline tour.