The Weinstein Company Gets Even With 'The Equalizer'

The Weinstein Company Gets Even With 'The Equalizer'

The Weinstein Company to Produce Film Based On Original Hit TV Series

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weinstein Company has acquired the rights to develop and produce a feature film based on the original hit television series "The Equalizer" in which Robert McCall, a veteran covert operative seeking redemption for his darker exploits, quits a CIA-like agency and puts an advertisement in the newspaper that reads; Got a problem? Odds against you? Call The Equalizer. The announcement was made today by Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Mace Neufeld ("The Sum of All Fears," "Sahara" and "Clear and Present Danger"), Tony Eldridge and Michael Sloan will serve as producers on the film. The rights were acquired from Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, the original creators of the television series "The Equalizer." Eric Robinson and Brenden Deneen will oversee production on behalf of The Weinstein Company. No director or cast has been attached to the project yet.

Harvey Weinstein stated, "The Equalizer was one of my favorite TV series in the 1980's because the writing was always smart and very unpredictable. I am really excited about developing and producing this film."

Michael Sloan said, "Tony Eldridge and I are thrilled to be working with two legendary filmmakers like Harvey Weinstein and Mace Neufeld. The Equalizer is a character we believe will resonate strongly with today's audience; a man of style and compassion using skills as an ex-covert agent to help ordinary people in trouble."

Mace Neufeld said, "I have been looking for a big franchise series to follow-up on my Tom Clancy films. The Equalizer perfectly fills the bill."

The original hit television drama series "The Equalizer" starred Edward Woodward and Robert Lansing and ran on CBS from 1985-1989.

Eric Roth, executive vice president and co-head of business and legal affairs for The Weinstein Company negotiated the deal on behalf of The Weinstein Company. Mickey Freiberg from Acme Talent & Literary Agency negotiated on behalf of Michael Sloan, Tony Eldridge and Mace Neufeld along with Michael Schenkman of Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal & LaViolette, LL. Peter Meyer is Michael Sloan's manager.

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corp. in 1979. The Weinstein Company is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1st, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that began with Miramax, will also be included under The Weinstein Company banner. The Weinsteins are actively working on the production, development and acquisition of projects for The Weinstein Company. While at Miramax, the Weinsteins released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films of the past decade. They received 249 Academy Award nominations and a record 16 Best Picture nominations over the past ten consecutive years. Some of these films include: "The Aviator," "Finding Neverland," "Chicago," "Gangs of New York," "In the Bedroom," "Chocolat," "The Cider House Rules," "Shakespeare In Love," "Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella)," "Good Will Hunting," "The English Patient," "Il Postino (The Postman)," "Pulp Fiction," "The Piano" and "The Crying Game."

The Weinsteins have acquired the following titles to be released by The Weinstein Company: "Decameron," "The Libertine," "Last Legion," "Young Hannibal," "Hoodwinked!," "Transamerica," "Nomad," "Outlander," "Stormbreaker" and "Lucky Number Slevin." Other titles to be released by The Weinstein Company include "Derailed," "The Matador," "Wolf Creek," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Fast Track," "Breaking and Entering," "Scary Movie 4," "Sin City 2," "Pulse," "Passion of The Clerks," "Killshot," "Come Closer," "Awake," "Unknown," the fourth movie in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Series, "School for Scoundrels," "Grind House," "Black Christmas," "Kung Fu High School," "Fan Boys," "Castlevania," "1408," "Quebec" and "SPL."

"Passion of the Clerks," "Killshot," and "Awake" are currently in production for The Weinstein Company and "Scary Movie 4" and "School for Scoundrels" are in production for Dimension Films.

Source: The Weinstein Company

CONTACT: Sarah Levinson Rothman, +1-646-862-3823, or Julie Cloutier,
+1-646-862-3825, both of The Weinstein Company

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