Weinstein Co In Talks To Buy 'Coriolanus'

http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/weinstein-co-in-talks-to-buy-coriolanus/

Weinstein Co In Talks To Buy 'Coriolanus'

By MIKE FLEMING | Thursday February 3, 2011 @ 5:34pm EST


EXCLUSIVE: The Weinstein Company is negotiating for U.S. distribution rights to Coriolanus, the Ralph Fiennes-directed John Logan-scripted contemporized adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Gerard Butler, Fiennes, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain lead the cast. The film will be part of the competition at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival. It puts Harvey Weinstein back in business with Fiennes, who starred in the 1996 Best Picture winner The English Patient and most recently in The Reader. The plan being discussed involves platforming the picture later this year, in time for awards season. Fiennes plays the title character, a hero who is banished and plots his revenge by aligning with his sworn enemy, Tulles Aufidius (Butler) to return and sack his homeland. Political machinations and misgivings get in the way and place Coiolanus in grave danger. Gabrielle Tana of Magnolia Mae Films, Julia Taylor-Stanley of Artemis Films, and Colin Vaines produced it. Weinstein viewed the film a month ago in London. The pending deal follows an aggressive Sundance for Weinstein, who acquired the fest's two highest priced films in the Paul Rudd-starrer My Idiot Brother and the Tobey Maguire-starrer The Details.

It's official.



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weinsteins-distribute-ralph-fiennes-coriolanus-98310


Weinsteins to Distribute Ralph Fiennes' 'Coriolanus' (Berlin)3:07 PM 2/11/2011 by Stuart Kemp

Set for a 2011 release, the contemporary political thriller centers on the life and times of Shakespeare's Roman general antihero.
The Weinstein Company has taken U.S. rights to Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut Coriolanus, which is due to unspool in Competition at the Berlinale Monday.

The $10-million pic, which also stars Fiennes himself alongside Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox.

TWC has secured Pan Asian pay TV rights to the pic, which the outfit was circling pre-EFM in a multi-layered deal struck with Icon Entertainment International.

TWC is planning a 2011 release.

The story is played as a contemporary political thriller about the life and times of Shakespeare's Roman general antihero.

The deal was hammered out for Icon by Hugo Grumbar, Estelle Overs and for TWC by COO David Glasser, senior VP of biz affairs Michal Steinberg, senior VP of production Kelly Carmichael and VP of acquisitions Daniel Guando.

KSM has taken all German rights for the movie, Icon said.

Lionsgate has the movie in the U.K.

Fiennes also produced the pic with Artemis Films' Julia Taylor-Stanley, Magnolia Mae Films' Gabrielle Tana and Synchronistic's Colin Vaines.

Fiennes told The Hollywood Reporter that the picture had been a labor love, verging on obsession.

"I think I have an obsession with this particular Shakespearean play and its vertical confrontation between the play and how it speaks directly to the audience and confronts them," Fiennes said.

http://www.movieweb.com/news/coriolanus-acquired-by-weinstein-company



Coriolanus Acquired by Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from Icon Entertainment International (IEI) U.S. rights and Pan Asian pay TV rights to Coriolanus, the feature directorial debut of Academy Award nominated actor Ralph Fiennes. A contemporary staging of Shakespeare's classic play about the titular Roman warrior, Coriolanus stars Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain and James Nesbitt.

Coriolanus will make its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival this Monday, February 14. TWC plans a 2011 release.

Said TWC Co-Chairman, Harvey Weinstein, "My brother's and my relationship with Ralph stretches back many years and includes two of our most cherished productions, The English Patient and The Reader. He's a brilliant artist, and we are honored and delighted to partner with him in bringing Coriolanus to American moviegoers."

Ralph Fiennes said, "I'm thrilled that Harvey and TWC will distribute Coriolanus in the U.S. His response to the film was overwhelmingly passionate. He really embraced it. This has been a long road and I cannot think of a better company to do it in the U.S."

Said IEI Managing Director, Hugo Grumbar, "TWC is the perfect U.S. home for Ralph's visceral, stunning debut."

The deal was negotiated for TWC by David Glasser, Chief Operating Officer, Michal Steinberg, Senior Vice President Business Affairs, Kelly Carmichael, Senior Vice President Production and Daniel Guando, Vice President Acquisitions; and for IEI by Grumbar and Estelle Overs, Head of Legal and Business Affairs.

Coriolanus is produced by Ralph Fiennes; Julia Taylor-Stanley for Artemis Films; Gabrielle Tana for Magnolia Mae Films; and Colin Vaines for Synchronistic Inc. It was adapted for the screen by John Logan, (Sweeney Todd, The Aviator, Gladiator). Barry Ackroyd (Green Zone, The Hurt Locker, United 93) is the Director of Photography. The film is being distributed in the U.K. by Lionsgate UK.

Coriolanus comes to theaters in 2011 and stars Gerard Butler, Ralph Fiennes, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, James Nesbitt, Ashraf Barhom, Dragan Micanovic. The film is directed by Ralph Fiennes.

I think Weinstein had the international distribution rights for LAC too - through a deal with The Film Department.