AMC’s Odeon Cinemas Group Confirms Suzie Welch as U.K., Ireland Managing Director

“The cracks in the employers’ walls are getting deeper everyday.”

Ben Croll “Maudie” director Aisling Walsh describes her upcoming feature, “Ethel,” in recognizable terms. “We all understand what it is to struggle to be the best at what we can,” Walsh tells Variety. “We’re all looking for that chance to make something happen.” Written by Celeste Parr, produced by Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) of Sphere Media, and presented at this year’s Venice Production Bridge gap-financing market, “Ethel” tells the true story of Ethel Stark – a trailblazing Canadian musician who broke barriers when she founded a mixed-race, all-female orchestra in the 1940s.

OK, so there was one good deal point –one– to come out of the AMPTP talks with the WGA, as SAG-AFTRA National Executive director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland admitted at TIFF today: It was the streamer’s transparency on viewership numbers.

He brought zing to a sleepy Comic-Con, and he’s raising the humidity levels here at TIFF. SAG-AFTRA Chief Negotiator and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland took the stage at the festival to give a post-Labor Day update on talks; and still it’s the same old story: The actors haven’t heard zip from the studios about moving forward.

SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator in a pitstop at TIFF revealed that the Taylor Swift: Eras Tour concert film, which is poised to open to $70M-$100M has a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entirely online from next year. New claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by Adult Disability Payment and are no longer processed by the DWP.

Chris O’Dowd is penning a Sky comedy-drama starringChristina Hendricks andPaddy Considine about a Hollywood production that disturbs the peace in a fictional town in Ireland.

Naman Ramachandran Sony’s “The Equalizer 3” has finally toppled the six-week reign of “Barbie” atop the U.K. and Ireland box office. Antoine Fuqua’s action thriller, headlined by Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning, debuted with £2.7 million ($3.4 million), per numbers from Comscore.

BBC News].The music festival in County Laois wrapped yesterday (September 3) and after revellers departed, work began on readying the site for hosting refugees over the next six weeks.DCEDIY plans to operate the site at full capacity by this Thursday (September 7). There will be provisions for hot meals, hot water and hot shower facilities, toilets, and on-site access to a paramedic and first aid.Since February 2021, the Irish government has accommodated more than 92,400 people seeking refuge.

Simple Minds have shared details of a UK and Ireland tour next spring.The Scottish band have announced the new leg of their ‘Global Tour 2024′ following the recent news of dates in Australia and New Zealand next year.It follows last year’s ’40 Years Of Hits Tour’ and will be their biggest overall tour since 1985.Tickets for the UK and Ireland shows go on general sale from 9am BST this Friday (September 8) here.The UK and Ireland leg of Simple Minds’ tour kicks off at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on March March. It’s followed by eight more UK shows (minus an Ireland show at Dublin’s 3Arena), culminating in a hometown concert at Glasgow’s The OVO Hydro on March 29.Singer Jim Kerr said: “Concerts are the life blood of Simple Minds, it’s where we and our audience come alive and energised through music.

The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland - former Greater Manchester Police deputy chief constable Simon Byrne - has resigned with immediate effect, the Northern Ireland Policing Board has confirmed.

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker shared images from the prayer room at Glasgow airport hours after cancelling their UK and Ireland shows last weekend.The band announced on Friday (September 1) that they were cancelling a number of their upcoming shows due to “an urgent family matter” that meant Barker had to return home to the United States.Blink were due to perform in Glasgow that day, which has now been postponed along with their Belfast and Dublin shows.Due to an urgent family matter, Travis has had to return home to the States. The Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin shows are being postponed.

Example has announced details of a lengthy UK and Ireland tour – kicking off in February 2024.The grime-pop crossover star (real name Elliot Gleave) is known for his electro-pop chart-climbers such as ‘Kickstarts’, ‘Unorthodox’ with grime star Wretch 32, and his first UK Number One ‘Changed The Way You Kiss’.Today (September 4), the BRIT Award-nominated rapper has unveiled his 17-stop headlining ‘Bangers, Hits And A Couple New Bits’ tour – which will start in Bridlington Spa on February 2 next year, stopping in Nottingham, Cardiff and more, before ending in his hometown of London on February 24.Those with access to the pre-sale, fans can grab tickets this Wednesday (September 6) at 10am, before tickets go on general sale this Friday (September 8) at 10am. Fans can find the datse below and can buy any available tickets here.FEBRUARY2 – Bridlington, EN – Bridlington Spa4 – Lincoln, EN – The Engine Shed5 – Buckley, EN – The Tivoli7 – Glasgow, SC – O2 Academy8 – Newcastle, SC – NX9 – Nottingham, EN – Rock City10 – Manchester, EN – O2 Victoria Warehouse12 – Bristol, EN – O2 Academy13 – Bexhill, EN – De La Warr Pavilion14 – Bournemouth, EN – O2 Academy16 – Birmingham, EN – O2 Academy17 – Leeds, EN – O2 Academy18 – Norwich, EN – UEA20 – Belfast, IE – The Limelight21 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre23 – Cardiff, WLS – The Great Hall24 – London, EN – The Roundhouse Bangers, Hits and a Couple New Bitshttps://t.co/bRO4Dw4xdxPre sale at the link above.

EXCLUSIVE: Screen Ireland has hired producer Keith Potter as its new head of feature film.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent British Hollywood director Simon West (“Con Air,” “Lara Croft:Tomb Raider”) is set to direct Saudi Arabia-set epic “Antara” that will be shot in Neom, the sprawling production hub in Saudi Arabia’s northwestern corner. The English-language blockbuster based on Arab history is the tale of Antara ibn Shaddad, a slave warrior who was propelled to mythical status in the sixth century after winning his freedom and becoming a beloved knight and a widely celebrated Bedouin poet in the region. “Antara,” which was announced during the Venice Film Festival – where there is a strong Saudi industry presence – is co-produced by Irish entrepreneur, writer and producer Alexander Amartei.

Niall Horan has announced extra dates for the UK and Ireland leg of his upcoming tour, supporting his Number One album ‘The Show’.Earlier this year, the ex-One Direction star announced a full world tour to celebrate the his new record. The tour will be Niall’s biggest yet and first headline run since 2018’s ‘Flicker Sessions’ world tour.“My favourite thing in the world is being on tour,” he said.

The Traitors has begun filming for the second series after their hugely successful first season.

Tony Hadley was rushed to hospital just before he was due to perform a gig in Larne, Northern Ireland on Sunday night (August 27).The former Spandau Ballet frontman, 63, was scheduled to headline the Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon Live Lounge, but became unwell during soundcheck.He also met fans for a meet and greet after the soundcheck, but apparently appeared uncomfortable, before telling organisers that he was unwell.“We got St John’s Ambulance,” a PR representative for the event told the Belfast Telegraph.“We had to do what was right by him and he was taken to hospital, and his crew have all gone with him, to stick together. We hope he gets better soon.”Belfast singer Brendan Quinn stepped in alongside fiddle player Ciara Maguire to fill the slot.Ruth McIlroy, who organised the weekend, said fans had been “very understanding”.“A lot of the crowd heard him do his sound check, but unfortunately he clearly wasn’t feeling well and he got worse as evening went on,” she said.“Medics on site were very clear he needed to go to hospital.

Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee has announced a new Channel 4 comedy show.The new eight-part series, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast will follow childhood friends Saoirse, Robyn and Dara in their 30s, who become embroiled in a mystery after attending the wake of a former classmate.A synopsis adds: “When the women each receive an email informing them of the death of Greta, an old classmate they were once very close with, there’s clearly some unspoken, unfinished business. The friends decide to attend Greta’s wake and discover all may not be quite as it seems.

Naman Ramachandran “Barbie” is now the all-time box office champion in Ireland with an €8.85 million ($9.57 million) gross. Greta Gerwig’s film has swept past previous champions “Avatar” (€8.75 million) and “Titanic” (€8.39 million) in the country’s all-time top 10 chart. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” occupies fourth place with €7.57 million; “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” fifth with €6.76 million; “The Lion King” sixth with €6.55 million; “Avengers: Endgame” seventh with €6.42 million; “Joker” eighth with €6.4 million; “Mamma Mia!” ninth with €6.39 million; and “The Dark Knight” 10th with €6.31 million.