Weinstein Company co-CEO Bob Weinstein is denying reports that his embattled company is exploring a sale or bankruptcy reorganization.
After the rapid dismantling of his brother Harvey Weinstein’s career and reputation following rape and sexual harassment allegations, Bob insists that business is “through the roof” — despite mass condemnation Harvey’s misdeeds.
“Our banks, partners and shareholders are fully supportive of our company and it is untrue that the company or board is exploring a sale or shutdown of the company,” Bob Weinstein said in a statement.
In his memo, Bob confidently rattled off slate titles like “Paddington 2” and the imminent horror film “Polaroid” as examples of what TWC is rolling out. Except it isn’t.
Those films, along with Robert De Niro’s “War with Grandpa,” are all releases from The Weinstein Company’s genre division Dimension Films, which Bob runs.
“‘Polaroid’ is moving forward as planned with a release date of November 22 followed by ‘Paddington 2’ on January 12 … test screening scores are through the roof. ‘War with Grandpa’ starring Robert De Niro is scheduled for February 23, 2018,” Bob continued.
Conspicuously absent is “The Current War,” an awards play this year starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which Harvey was recutting before two bombshell reports of sexual misconduct in the New York Times and The New Yorker abruptly removed him from his office. “The Upside,” starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart,” is also coming next year from TWC.
Multiple distribution entities like Netflix have dropped Harvey’s name from credits, and an entire network of partners have reportedly stopped showing the TWC title card ahead of all of their content. Emergency meeting are being held this weekend to terminate Harvey’s membership in the film academy and the producers guild.
“Business is continuing as usual as the company moves ahead,” Bob concluded .
Read the full remarks below.
“Our banks, partners and shareholders are fully supportive of our company and it is untrue that the company or board is exploring a sale or shutdown of the company. Polaroid is moving forward as planned with a release date of November 22 followed by Paddington 2 on January 12. The first Paddington grossed over $75 million and we expect even greater success for Paddington 2. Test screening scores are through the roof. War with Grandpa starring Robert De Niro is scheduled for February 23, 2018. Business is continuing as usual as the company moves ahead.”