Bob and Harvey Weinstein are going to work with Miramax, the company they founded in 1979 and named after their parents, again with a development deal that not only covers film, but television and stage productions as well. Some of their first projects together will continue the stories from some of Miramax’s most popular films.
Harvey Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter today that the first projects they hope to do include a sequel to the 1998 Best Picture Oscar winner Shakespeare In Love, as well as a TV series based on 1996’s Swingers. Variety notes that the deal will also result in the development of TV shows based on Good Will Hunting and Flirting With Disaster.
“It's like opening the treasure at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark but actually having the keys to the treasure,” Harvey Weinstein told THR. “The deal is structured for 20 years, but we hope it lasts forever.”
Miramax was acquired by Disney in 1993, but the brothers left in 2005 to found The Weinstein Company. In 2010, Disney sold Miramax and the Weinsteins hoped to get it back, but Colony Capital, LLC swooped in and bought it. Since they acquired the library of over 700 titles, Colony hasn’t developed any new projects.
Qatar Holding also has a piece of Miramax and told THR in a statement that they support the production deal.
Back in August, Variety confirmed that Harvey Weinstein and Barrack met, possibly to talk about a partnership. In September, Barrack himself said that he was interested in working with the Weinsteins in an effort to take advantage of the library and begin new productions again.
image: TWC