Westbrook Studios takes full control of Global Screen owner Telepool

Will Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s production firm Westbrook Studios has taken full control of Germany’s Telepool, after acquiring the 50% of the company it didn’t already own from Swiss outfit Elysian Invest.

The Smith’s company, which itself received minority backing from Kevin Mayer and Tom Stagg’s Candle Media earlier this week, had first invested in the German distributor in 2018 via The Smith Family Circle.

Westbrook will now take full control of Telepool and its subsidiaries including sales outfit Global Screen.

Telepool is being moved into the new Westbrook International sales arm, with Jan Frouman, the former Red Arrow Studios exec and current Telepool CEO, becoming become president of the international arm.

The deal expands the global reach of Westbrook, which is behind Netflix drama Cobra Kai and has struck deals with Mo Abudu’s Nigerian production studio EbonyLife, among others.

Telepool, meanwhile, worked with Westbrook on Will Smith’s film King Richard, with the German company holding local sales rights.

Ko Yada, Westbrook’s CEO, said the deal and the launch of Westbrook International “enables us to truly reach a global community, furthering our mission to empower artists to tell stories that connect the world.”