Talk of Harvey Weinstein is certain to dominate cocktail discussions among producers and international distributors at the American Film Market this year. But aside from the shock and scandal, what buyers will be most interested in finding out is what happens now to The Weinstein Co. and its movies.
As the company reels from the worst sexual harassment scandal in Hollywood history, the fate of all TWC projects, at all stages of development, is in doubt. The brand has been poisoned, likely indelibly. Agents, talent and most Hollywood financiers want nothing to do with TWC.
Just last year at AFM, TWC co-chairman Bob Weinstein hoped to revive interest in the company among international buyers with a number of high-profile pitches, including the Mark Wahlberg starrer The Six Billion Dollar Man, a big-budget movie reboot of the 1970s television action series, and Furby, a toy-to-film adaptation from Transformers owners Hasbro. It appears highly unlikely that one of the world’s leading toy makers will want any of its products associated with the Weinstein name.
“I can’t imagine go-forward projects will last,” says Steven Birenberg of Northlake Capital Management, assessing the future of the company. “We have already seen cancellations.”
Adds one French buyer: “If this had happened 10 years ago, we would have been in crisis, but [TWC/Dimension] hasn’t been a big player for a while now. I don’t think they’ll be missed.”
As of press time, TWC is not registered with the market.
This story first appeared in the Nov. 1 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
