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Friday, September 26, 2008

Yesterday we reported that MGM was not going to distribute Killshot.  More details have emerged.

Gregg Kilday in The Hollywood Reporter reports:

The Weinstein Co.‘s distribution deal with MGM is ending not with a bang but a whimper.

Although the deal was set to expire Dec. 31, the Weinstein Co. is taking back seven titles that it will release itself before the end of the year and then send to cable through its new Showtime output deal. They include two wide releases: “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” (Oct. 31) and “The Road” (exclusive Nov. 14, going wide Nov. 26).

The other titles, which will get limited platform releases, are “Killshot,” “Fanboys,” “Crossing Over,” “Extreme Movie” and “Shanghai.”

Pamela McClintock in Variety adds:

From Harvey and Bob Weinstein’s perspective, releasing their own films gives them more control, particularly when it comes to specialty films. The company has its own distribution operation, headed by Steve Bunnell.
Most TWC titles came out of MGM as wide releases. TWC will have far more discretion to use platform releases.
After “Zack and Miri” and “Hurricane Season,” the TWC films that will now be distributed directly by the company include “Killshot” (Nov. 7), “Fanboys” (Nov. 26), “Crossing Over” (Dec. 3), “Extreme Movie” (Dec. 12) and “Shanghai.”
“Zack and Miri” is the only film scheduled to open wide; the other six are all set to begin in limited runs. That makes for a hectic schedule for the Weinsteins.

But Defamer cautions:

Harvey isn’t capitalized enough to market and distribute Porno, The Reader and any of the five films in between — The Road, Killshot (a recent shelf-rescue capitalizing on star Mickey Rourke’s Wrestler buzz), Fanboys, Crossing Over and Shanghai — without some outside help.

Maybe Harvey can get the government to bail him out.  What’s an extra 100 million for publicity and advertising?

As usual, Weinstein Company is not returning phone calls on this matter.  So we wait to see if there is a trailer or publicity for Killshot or the film is just drop shipped to select theaters on Nov. 7.  What are the odds of that happening?