{"id":63991,"date":"2012-09-24T14:55:51","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T14:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/09\/24\/the-weinstein-co-to-distribute-lee-daniels-the-butler\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T10:28:32","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T10:28:32","slug":"the-weinstein-co-to-distribute-lee-daniels-the-butler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/the-weinstein-co-to-distribute-lee-daniels-the-butler\/","title":{"rendered":"The Weinstein Co. to distribute Lee Daniel’s The Butler"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Weinstein Co. to distribute Lee Daniel’s The Butler<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

September 24, 2012
\n\"\"<\/a> The Weinstein Company<\/strong> (TWC) announced today that they have acquired U.S. rights from Butler Films to distribute THE BUTLER<\/strong>, directed by Academy Award nominated Lee Daniels<\/strong> (PRECIOUS). A Laura Ziskin Production, THE BUTLER is produced by Pamela Oas Williams<\/strong>, the late Laura Ziskin, Lee Daniels, Buddy Patrick<\/strong> and Cassian Elwes<\/strong>. Executive Producers include Hilary Shor<\/strong> and Adam Merims<\/strong>. It is co-produced by David Jacobson<\/strong>. The announcement was made today by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein<\/strong> and COO David Glasser<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Comprising this award-winning cast are: Forest Whitaker <\/strong>(THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), Oprah Winfrey <\/strong>(THE COLOR PURPLE), Mariah Carey<\/strong> (PRECIOUS), John Cusack <\/strong>(THE PAPERBOY), Jane Fonda<\/strong> (ON GOLDEN POND), Cuba Gooding, Jr.<\/strong> (JERRY MAGUIRE), Terrence Howard<\/strong> (HUSTLE & FLOW), Minka Kelly <\/strong>(THE ROOMMATE), Lenny Kravitz <\/strong>(PRECIOUS), Melissa Leo<\/strong> (THE FIGHTER), James Marsden<\/strong> (X-MEN), David Oyelowo<\/strong> (THE PAPERBOY), Alex Pettyfer <\/strong>(MAGIC MIKE), Vanessa Redgrave<\/strong> (CORIOLANUS), Alan Rickman<\/strong> (CBGB), Liev Schreiber<\/strong> (X-MEN), and Robin Williams<\/strong> (GOOD WILL HUNTING).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>THE BUTLER,<\/strong> based on the screenplay by Danny Strong<\/strong> & Lee Daniels, is inspired by Wil Haygood<\/strong>\u2019s Washington Post article about an African-American man who served as a butler (Whitaker) to eight Presidents in the White House for over thirty years. From this unique vantage point, THE BUTLER traces the dramatic changes that swept American society, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man\u2019s life and family. \u201cWhat moves me most about this man is his quiet nature, grace and unmatched perspective that comes from being in one place \u2013 a very powerful one \u2013 during what was arguably the period in American history that saw the most change,\u201d said Daniels, whose most recent film, THE PAPERBOY<\/strong>, premiered at the 2012 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, and will also be featured in this fall’s New York Film Festival.<\/p>\n

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Said Weinstein, \u201cLee tells stories in a way no one else does. What struck me most about this story is the perspective it comes from, which in this case is the butler- a man who was a fly on the wall for decades in the world\u2019s most powerful home. It takes an unbelievable cast like the one that\u2019s in place to do this story justice, and we are proud to be given the chance to share this story with the world.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Added Williams, \u201cThis has been a passion project for all involved and we are thrilled to be able to see Laura Ziskin\u2019s vision for this film realized and know it will be a lasting tribute to her incredible career.\u201d<\/strong> TWC and Butler Films made the deal based on the screenplay by Strong & Daniels. The deal was negotiated by TWC\u2019s Glasser and President, Business and Legal Affairs Andrew Kramer, and by Schuyler Moore of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Cassian Elwes on behalf of Evolution Independent, and CAA on behalf of Butler Films. The film is currently in production in New Orleans.<\/p>\n

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THE BUTLER<\/strong> is financed by Windy Hill Pictures, Follow Through Productions, Salamander Media, Salloway Rubenstein Productions\/Crystal City Entertainment, Earl W. Stafford, Starstream Films, Yogi Entertainment, and Inner Media Capital. Executive Producers are Michael Finley, Sheila C. Johnson, Brett Johnson, Matthew Salloway, Earl W. Stafford, Jordan Kessler, Liz Destro, R. Bryan Wright, and James T. Bruce IV. Co-Executive Producers are Charles Sauveur Bonan, Allen Frederic, Kim Leadford, Harry I. Martin, Jr., Ari Daniel Pinchot and Jonathan Rubenstein. As previously announced, THE BUTLER marks a high-profile return to production for Icon UK Group, who also came in as major investors on the project. Len Blavatnik, Aviv Giladi and Vince Holden will also serve as Executive Producers. CAA packaged the film and is handling North American sales along with Cassian Elwes. The film is being represented by IM Global for international sales.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
\nThe 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<\/strong> and SCARY MOVIE<\/strong>. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards\u00ae, the most wins in the studio\u2019s history. The tally included Best Picture for Michel Hazanavicius\u2019s THE ARTIST<\/strong> and Best Documentary Feature for TJ Martin and Dan Lindsay\u2019s UNDEFEATED<\/strong>. THE ARTIST brought TWC its second consecutive Best Picture statuette following the 2011 win for Tom Hooper\u2019s THE KING\u2019S SPEECH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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