The Band Perry Announce They Will Take a 'Creative Break' As a Group

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.

EXCLUSIVE: The Match Factory will be handling world sales on Wim Wenders’ Japan-set Cannes Competition entry Perfect Days.

Residents in Cardross have hit out at revised plans for 120 new homes in the west of the village.

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 over — for now. On Monday, the group, comprised of siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry, said that they are taking a «creative break.» «To our TBP friends and family: We wanted to let you know that the three of us have decided to take a creative break as a group and each focus on our individual creative pursuits,» the statement, shared on the group's official Instagram account, read.«During this season we will continue to support each other as artists and family in all we do.