Weinsteins in Talks with Fox?

[lebernadin]

Hollywood heavyweights Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein are reportedly planning to quit Disney and take their Miramax studio to 20th Century Fox. The brothers are thought to have fallen out with Disney bosses after they rejected Michael Moore's Palme D'Or-winning film Fahrenheit 9/11 - reportedly fearing the controversial anti-George W. Bush movie would jeopardize alleged tax breaks afforded to their Florida theme parks by the state's governor, George's brother Jeb Bush. And now they are considering striking a deal to take the hugely successful studio - behind hits Chicago, Shakespeare In Love and Good Will Hunting - to Rupert Murdoch's Fox. A source tells American newspaper the New York Daily News, "There are four scenarios. They could stay with Disney. They could leave Disney with the name but not their 500-film library. They could leave Disney with the library but not the name. Or they could leave with nothing and start over. Notice that three out of the four involve leaving Disney."

 

[Shaman]

If they leave I hope they take their name, and leave Disney with the film library...I don't think losing the Weinsteins is greatest thing that can happen right now to the company...

Lets see what happens...

 

[wdwmaniac]

This could be good or bad for Disney. First the bad Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein have been an asset to Disney and Miramax has made Disney a profit, and not good to lose this after PIXAR. The good news from this break up would be another blow to Eisner. It also could mean Disney staying Family. As much as I enjoyed Chicago, Gangs of New York, and many other Miramax films they are totally not Disney. I feel if they were to sell off Miramax they invest in PIXAR and Dreamworks (IPO due out this fall). I feel that Disney is still correct in with holding Moore's movie from Miramax's release not for political reason but for the Disney name sake. A company that is such a family name should not take sides.

 

[wdwmaniac]

lebernadin could I have a site link for this info?

 

[lebernadin]

imdb

 

[ThreeCircles]

The Weinstein's can't "take" Miramax anywhere. Miramax (and the film library) is a wholly-owned subsideary of the Walt Disney Company. They own it.

The Weinstein's are under contract until 2005. At that time, if they want to leave the studio and go elsewhere, they can but the studio remains Disney property.

Now, I guess there are reports that Disney may sell Miramax to the Weinsteins. However, it is somewhat doubtful that they will be able to raise the capital to make a buy from Disney.

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
The Weinstein's can't "take" Miramax anywhere. Miramax (and the film library) is a wholly-owned subsideary of the Walt Disney Company. They own it.

Who is saying otherwise?

The Weinstein's are under contract until 2005. At that time, if they want to leave the studio and go elsewhere, they can but the studio remains Disney property.

Now, I guess there are reports that Disney may sell Miramax to the Weinsteins. However, it is somewhat doubtful that they will be able to raise the capital to make a buy from Disney.

Yes, read above. But the essence of this speculation that has been reported is that if the Weinsteins leave then its going to be a huge political blow. Eisner might be able to ride out the loss of Pixar, or the loss of Miramax, but not both. You just can't come out on top when the two largest creative venues that have brought the majority of revenue to your bottom line over the past 10 years leave.

The Weinsteins ARE Miramax, so regardless of how it turns out, as long as they leave Disney, its a huge crush, since they'll be creating the same caliber, if not better, projects under another studio and crushing the pathetic non-animated projects that have come out of Disney during the same time period they have owned Miramax.

Its like Michael Jackson owning the Beatles catalog, its worth a ton, but otherwise useless since most revenue from a project is generated within 2-5 years of a projects initial release.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Sorry, I wasn't atempting to start a debate. It's just the way the original post was worded.

And I would agree that if the Weinstein's left it would be a blow to both Miramax and the WDC.

Personally, I would much rather see the WDC keep Miramax around rather than continue a relationship with Pixar.