By MCN Editor editor@moviecitynews.com
TWC PARTNERS WITH RON BURKLE TO ACQUIRE U.S. RIGHTS FROM PATHÉ INTERNATIONAL TO PHYLLIDA LLOYD’S THE IRON LADY STARRING MERYL STREEP AS MARGARET THATCHER
2011 Release Planned
New York, NY, May 13, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from Pathé International all U.S. distribution rights to THE IRON LADY, directed by Phyllida Lloyd (MAMMA MIA!) and starring Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep (THE HOURS, JULIA AND JULIA) as Margaret Thatcher. Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent (the HARRY POTTER series, IRIS) co-stars as Thatcher’s husband, Denis. The film marks the second collaboration between Lloyd and Streep, following the acclaimed hit musical MAMMA MIA!. THE IRON LADY is written by award-winning writer Abi Morgan (BRICK LANE, WHITE GIRL) and produced by Damian Jones (THE HISTORY BOYS, MILLIONS). The announcement was jointly made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and Francois Ivernel, EVP, Pathé.
TWC will partner on the acquisition with Ron Burkle, in the third joint acquisition of 2011, following OUR IDIOT BROTHER and THE DETAILS.
The US Theatrical release for THE IRON LADY is planned for 2011.
Said Weinstein, “Having worked with both Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent, I know that they are without peer as film actors. Even so, I was absolutely blown away by what I saw of their performances as Margaret and Denis Thatcher. Phyllida is doing an incredible job.”
Commented Ivernel and Cameron McCracken, MD Pathé UK, “We are excited to be in business again with Harvey and his team – The Iron Lady has found a worthy home in TWC and a great champion for the US market.” Added Peter Lawson TWC Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, “I was very impressed by the screenplay and when I saw the assembled footage, I knew immediately that THE IRON LADY belonged at TWC.”
The deal was negotiated for TWC by COO David Glasser, Lawson, and Michal Steinberg, Senior Vice President Business Affairs and Acquisitions; and for Pathé by McCracken, Muriel Sauzay, Executive Vice President, International Sales and Mike Runagall, Senior Vice President, International Sales.
THE IRON LADY – SYNOPSIS
THE IRON LADY is a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. One of the 20th century’s most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world.
ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, most recently Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; Derek Cianfrance’s Academy Award®-nominated BLUE VALENTINE; John Wells’ feature directorial debut, THE COMPANY MEN; Julian Schnabel’s MIRAL; and Wes Craven’s SCRE4M. Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; and 2011 Golden Globe® Best Foreign Language Film nominee THE CONCERT. Upcoming releases include SPY KIDS 4, APOLLO 18, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, THE DETAILS and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. Recently wrapping are I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT and COGAN’S TRADE.
TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® Award-winning hit reality series “Project Runway,” the new VH1 reality series “Mob Wives,” and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.” The company is producing two “Project Runway” spinoffs, “Project Runway: Masters” and “Project Runway: Accessories,” which are expected to debut in 2011. The company currently has 17 series in different stages of development, including: “Marco Polo,” a scripted historical series about the great explorer; “The Nanny Diaries,” based on the hit book; and “The Mad Ones,” adapted from the Mafia novel of the same name.
ABOUT PATHÉ INTERNATIONAL
Since it was established by Charles Pathé and his brother at the end of 19th century, Pathé has remained one of Europe’s pre-eminent entertainment companies. With a reputation built on independence, innovation and quality, Pathé is the world’s longest established film company and now encompasses a diverse range of media and entertainment interests. Pathé is one of the leading distributors and producers of films in both the UK and France. Pathé’s productions range from Aardman’s “Chicken Run” to Stephen Frears’ “The Queen” to Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire”. The Pathé library currently comprises almost 700 titles. Pathé is also continental Europe’s leading cinema chain, with over 1000 screens in France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Pathé International handles the international marketing and sales of Pathé’s own productions and actively acquires third party films for worldwide representation. As one of Europe’s leading sales agents, Pathé International has a significant presence at all major film markets and festivals. Pathé International’s current slate includes THE IRON LADY (starring Meryl Streep), and Paolo Sorrentino’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (starring Sean Penn).
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