Lifetime Owner Says It Nixed 'Project Runway'-Weinstein Co Deal

A+E Networks has terminated its agreement to air two planned seasons of “Project Runway” in the wake of The Weinstein Company’s legal and financial woes.

According to a filing in TWC’s bankruptcy case, A+E Networks canceled its agreement in January, claiming TWC was in breach of contract in light of the sexual assault accusations against Harvey Weinstein made public last fall.

“On November 1, 2017, AETN sent TWC a letter putting it on notice that Mr. Weinstein’s actions, which were reportedly known by TWC, constituted material breaches and defaults under the [agreement],” the filing said.

Also Read: What Happens to 'Project Runway' and Other Weinstein TV Projects in Bankruptcy?

The agreement, which included plans for Seasons 17 and 18 of the reality competition show as well as a licensing agreement for a potential movie, was officially terminated on January 10. A+E cited three reasons for the decision, including TWC’s failure to notify them of “claims or pending litigation that would adversely affect the agreement” and breaches of A+E’s standards of conduct.

“Project Runway’s” future had been thrown up in the air when The Weinstein Company filed for bankruptcy last month. Spinoff “Project Runway All-Stars” has one more season already in the can, which will not be affected by the decision to terminate the agreement.

The move by TWC follows a similar one by the producers of the Armie Hammer-led “Hotel Mumbai,” which said in court documents filed Monday that they terminated their distribution deal with The Weinstein Co. in February, weeks before it filed for bankruptcy.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

11 Film and TV Projects Left in Limbo From Weinstein Company Bankruptcy (Photos)

The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?
"The Current War"

After making its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Thomas Edison biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch was originally scheduled for an awards-friendly December 2017 release before getting pushed.
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"The War With Grandpa"

Starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Oakes Fegley, The Weinstein Company unloaded the completed family film to its producers Marro Media Co. for $2.5 million.
Amazon
"The Six Billion Dollar Man"

Mark Wahlberg was set to star in a remake of the '70s TV series starring Lee Majors. The rights to the project directed by Damián Szifron was sold to Warner Bros. for $7.2 million.
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"Mary Magdalene"

This Biblical drama directed by "Lion's" Garth Brooks and starring Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ was just released on March 16 in the U.K. by Focus Features.
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"The Upside"

"The Upside" is a remake of the French drama "The Intouchables" and stars Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. It made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was originally scheduled to be released in March.
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Untitled David O. Russell Project

Amazon cut ties with The Weinstein Company back in October and canceled a planned series from David O. Russell that was set to star Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore.
"Polaroid"

“Polaroid,” a low-budget horror film from Bob Weinstein’s Dimension Films genre division, is listed in court filings among The Weinstein Company's assets, but it isn't listed as an “unreleased picture.”
Dimension Films
"Fahrenheit 11/9"

Michael Moore's follow up to "Fahrenheit 9/11" concerns the 2016 election of Donald Trump. TWC, which had previously distributed "Fahrenheit 9/11," acquired it in May. The project is still in production.
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"Hotel Mumbai"

"Hotel Mumbai" is a thriller starring Armie Hammer and Dev Patel based on a 2009 documentary, "Surviving Mumbai" about the deadly terror attack on the Indian city. The Weinstein Company acquired it in May of 2016.
The Weinstein Company
"Project Runway"

Lifetime sources tell TheWrap that shooting a new season of "Project Runway" is currently up in the air because of TWC's financial and PR problems. Further, Weinstein's estranged wife Georgina Chapman is a judge on a current and upcoming season of "Project Runway: All Stars," both of which were shot prior to the sexual assault allegations becoming public.

Lifetime
"Scream"

The Weinstein Company has a credit on the MTV adaptation of the horror franchise "Scream," with a third, unaired season already completed. It's been over a year since the show aired, and the new season does not have an air date.
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“The Current War,” “Hotel Mumbai” and “The Upside” are among TWC’s unreleased work

The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?

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