Leo Barraclough-Senior Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentArtist Isaac Baruch, a childhood friend of Johnny Depp’s, told a London court Friday about the day he allegedly found Amber Heard changing the locks to the Los Angeles penthouse she shared with the actor.Baruch was giving evidence by video link from the U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentLeading television industry event the Edinburgh TV Festival has added two sessions to its lineup, with “Succession” writer Lucy Prebble and Russell T.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAMC Networks’ streaming service Sundance Now has taken the rights for true crime drama “Des,” starring David Tennant, in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.New Pictures’ chilling three-parter, based on the true story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen (Tennant), will debut on commissioning broadcaster ITV in the U.K. later this year.Distributor All3Media Intl.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentA series of live events in the U.K. have been canceled only a few days after the government lifted the ban on outdoor performances.News broke late Wednesday that Live Nation has canceled its Live From The Drive-In tour, citing “localized lockdowns” as spikes in COVID-19 infection continue to occur.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAction-thriller Western “A Soldier’s Revenge,” which stars Neal Bledsoe (Amazon’s “The Man in High Castle”), and Val Kilmer (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Batman Forever”), has been picked up by several distributors including Well Go Entertainment in the U.S.The film, which also stars Rob Mayes (ABC’s “Mistresses”), AnnaLynne McCord (CW’s “90210”), and Jake Busey (“Starship Troopers”), has also gone to Australia’s Eagle, South Korea’s First Run, and

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentKate James, Amber Heard’s former personal assistant, alleged that Heard had appropriated her story of being a “sexual violence survivor,” giving evidence at London’s Royal Courts of Justice on the seventh day of Johnny Depp’s libel trial against the publisher of The Sun newspaper.Depp is suing News Group Newspapers and journalist Dan Wootton for an article on The Sun website that described him as a “wife beater.” Depp denies that he was violent

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSimon Cowell has bought out Sony Music Entertainment’s 75% share in their joint venture Syco Holdings, which owns TV formats such as “Got Talent” and “The X Factor.”Syco Holdings, to be renamed Syco Entertainment, retains ownership of all the company’s television formats.Sony Music Entertainment will retain the music assets joint venture, Syco Music, and all artists will remain signed with Sony Music Entertainment.More to follow.Want to read

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJohnny Depp alleged that his former wife, Amber Heard, stubbed a cigarette out on his face, his bodyguard Malcolm Connolly told a court Tuesday.Connolly, who has worked for Depp for about 16 years, was giving evidence at London’s Royal Courts of Justice on the sixth day of Depp’s libel trial against the publisher of The Sun newspaper.Depp is suing News Group Newspapers and journalist Dan Wootton for an article on The Sun website that described

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJohnny Depp claims he discovered at a meeting with his accountant in 2016 that he had lost $650 million in movie earnings, immediately prior to an incident when he is alleged to have been violent toward his then wife Amber Heard, a court heard on Monday, the fifth day of his libel trial in London against the publisher of The Sun newspaper.Depp is suing News Group Newspapers and journalist Dan Wootton for an article on The Sun website that

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe Bureau Sales has launched sales on documentary “The Monopoly of Violence,” David Dufresne’s timely examination of police violence. The film was selected recently by Cannes’ parallel section Directors’ Fortnight.Filmcoopi has picked up rights to the film in Switzerland, and O Brother has acquired rights for Benelux.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJohnny Depp alleged that his former wife Amber Heard or one of her friends defecated on their bed, a court heard on Friday — the fourth day of his libel trial in London against the publisher of The Sun newspaper.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAlthough the public part of this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival — the key event for the film business in Central and Eastern Europe — was canceled, the festival pressed ahead with its industry section, Eastern Promises, which ran July 6-8 in an online format.Eastern Promises selected 41 projects in development, production and post-production from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North

Leo Barraclough Senior International Correspondent“Wild Roots,” a drama about a lonely, ex-con bouncer who is reunited with his wild child daughter, has won the Works in Progress Award at Eastern Promises, Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s industry section. In the debut feature from director Hajni Kis, the two outsiders bond, but the father’s vehement nature and a family secret stand between them.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe organizers of Sundance Film Festival: London, the U.K. iteration of the Park City indie pic fiesta, are to hold a boutique event online, running Aug.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJohnny Depp used the blood from the severed tip of his finger to paint messages on a mirror, a court heard Thursday, the third day of his libel trial against the publisher of The Sun newspaper in London.Depp is suing Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers and journalist Dan Wootton for an article on The Sun website on April 27, 2018 that described him as a “wife beater.” Depp denies that he was violent toward his former wife Amber Heard, to whom

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentWarnerMedia has appointed Christina Sulebakk to lead HBO Europe, including the linear networks and streaming service.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSky Studios Elstree, the large-scale film and TV production facility being developed by Comcast’s European pay-TV operator Sky, sister company NBCUniversal, and finance firm Legal & General, has received the green light to proceed with construction following a decision late Wednesday by the local government, Hertsmere Borough Council.More to follow.Want to read more articles like this one?

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentGiving evidence on the second day of a libel trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Johnny Depp denied slapping his former wife Amber Heard when she laughed at one of his tattoos.Depp, who is suing the publisher of The Sun newspaper for describing him as a “wife beater,” was being cross-examined Wednesday by defense attorney Sasha Wass.Depp had a tattoo that had originally read “Winona Forever,” in honor of his ex-girlfriend actress

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEuropean pay-TV operator Sky and Sony Pictures Television have agreed a new long-term partnership across the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.The deal includes a multi-year extension across all markets to the exclusive first pay window, and access to Sony’s film library, and extends to all of Sky’s transactional services across its markets.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJohnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard, both masked, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday for the explosive start of a libel trial.Depp is suing the publisher of The Sun, News Group Newspapers, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, for describing him as a “wife-beater,” based on allegations Heard had made.Depp “is not and never has been a wife beater,” his attorney David Sherborne said in an opening statement.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentTom Meighan, the former lead vocalist of rock band Kasabian, has pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence.Meighan was accused of attacking his former fiancee Vikki Ager on April 9, and submitted his guilty plea Tuesday at a court in Leicester, England.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEuropean pay TV operator Sky has taken 100% ownership of Love Productions, the producer behind “The Great British Bake Off.” Sky previously owned a 70% stake in the company, founded by Richard McKerrow.Jane Millichip, Sky Studios’ chief commercial officer, said: “Love Productions is a world-class production company that has continued to create popular, thought-provoking and award-winning factual and factual entertainment shows since Sky first

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentOn Tuesday, Johnny Depp’s libel trial against the publisher of The Sun newspaper starts in London.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentAlthough the public part of this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival — the key event for the film business in Central and Eastern Europe — was canceled, the festival is pressing ahead with its industry section, Eastern Promises, which runs July 6-8 in an online format.Eastern Promises selects 41 projects in development, production and post-production from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe Czech Republic’s Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, the leading movie event in Central and Eastern Europe, is to hold a special four-day event in the fall, despite its decision to postpone its 55th edition until next year.The special event, running under the banner “Karlovy Vary IFF 54½,” will unspool Nov.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentA trial at London’s Royal Courts of Justice in which Johnny Depp will sue The Sun newspaper for an article alleging he was a “wife beater” is to go ahead.The article referenced allegations that Depp was often violent toward his ex-wife Amber Heard, which he denies strenuously.Adam Wolanski, the attorney acting for the tabloid’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, had asked the trial judge, Judge Andrew Nicol, to throw out the case.Wolanski argued

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMulti-Grammy winning director Jonas Akerlund is to helm “Midas Man,” a movie about The Beatles’ manager and music impresario Brian Epstein, it was confirmed Thursday.Epstein discovered The Beatles – indeed Paul McCartney referred to him as “the fifth Beatle” – and they signed a contract with him in 1961.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSebastien Raybaud’s production and financing company Anton, whose credits include “McMafia” and “His Dark Materials,” and Tobi de Graaff, former BBC Studios director of commissioning and co-production, are partnering to launch Beiboot Representation, which will develop, package and finance high-end television, with a focus on European-produced premium content.The London-based joint-venture, fully backed by Anton, will be platform agnostic and

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentHungary, Europe’s second most popular destination for Hollywood shoots, is offering exemptions for U.S. cast and crew from the European Union ban announced Tuesday.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentNewly formed literary management company International Literary Properties – which represents the works of authors such as “Maigret’s” Georges Simenon – has signed a first-look deal with BBC Studios, allowing both BBC Studios Production and its team of independent producers the chance to adapt for television the intellectual property owned and managed by ILP.The London- and New York-based company, which was set up last year, holds the rights for

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe head of the film commission in the Czech Republic, which recently hosted shows like “Carnival Row” for Amazon and “The Falcon & Winter Soldier” for Marvel/Disney Plus, has written to Hollywood studios to reassure them that the European Union ban on U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentLondon-based production, finance and sales company Film Constellation and the global curated streaming service MUBI have partnered to host an exclusive premiere of Werner Herzog’s “Family Romance, LLC” on July 3 in the U.S., featuring an exclusive introduction and interview with Herzog.In other international territories, the company is collaborating with the local theatrical distributor, including U.K.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEllen Kuras, whose credits include “Ozark” and “Catch 22,” has come on board to direct Kate Winslet as Vogue cover model turned war correspondent Lee Miller. Joining them is screenwriter Liz Hannah (“The Post,” “Long Shot”).“Lee” follows Lee Miller as she travels to the frontlines of World War II as a photojournalist and embarks on a mission to expose the hidden truths of the Third Reich.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFilm and theater director Kirill Serebrennikov, whose film “Leto” played in competition in Cannes in 2018, was found guilty of embezzlement by a Russian court on Friday, according to news agency TASS.Serebrennikov, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, was accused of being the leader of a group that embezzled 129 million roubles ($1.87 million) in state funds, a charge he denied.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentNetflix has ordered Dutch original series “Dirty Lines,” about the rise of erotic phone lines in the late 80s. The screenplay, inspired by Fred Saueressig’s book “06-Cowboys,” is written by Pieter Bart Korthuis (“Fighter’s Heart,” “Penoza”) and produced by Amsterdam-based production company Fiction Valley.The series tells the story of young businessman Frank Stigter.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentRoeg Sutherland and Benjamin Kramer, who co-lead CAA Media Finance, have been working on the agency-led virtual market in Cannes, and spoke to Variety about the prospects for the independent film scene.CAA Media Finance’s projects in the market include Antoine Fuqua’s “Emancipation,” starring Will Smith; Dan Gilroy’s “Faster, Better, Cheaper”; Ric Roman Waugh’s “Kandahar,” starring Gerard Butler; “Rebel,” directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall