press people, confirmed this week that Miramax is indeed moving to Santa Monica.
But the news has raised some eyebrows around town, as it seemed no one knew the film studio had relocated to the city by the sea. Celauro indicated that finalization of the move would likely take place in January. However, that is all she was able to disclose.
Rumors around town have pegged The Water Gardens on Olympic Boulevard as Miramax’s new home. Sources at the Water Gardens Company LLC were unable to comment officially on the matter as they are prohibited from discussing leaser’s information, however one such source described the situation as “transitional” and “unfinalized.”
The move is seen as part of Miramax’s recent restructuring, which has come with announcements and rumors of several sequels to such movies as “Bad Santa,” “Rounders,” and “Shakespeare in Love.” Other potential sequels and TV projects are “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Swingers,” “Clerks,” and “The Amityville Horror.” The sequels will be developed in partnership with The Weinstein Company (TWC), which was launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979.
Lang’s ascension to CEO, the Weinstein/Miramax sequel partnership, and Filmyard Holdings’s $663 million purchase of the company are just the latest announcements for the movie studio with a “transitional” history.
After forming the company, the Weinsteins originally headquartered Miramax in New York and Cambridge, Mass. It started as an independent film motion picture distribution and production company before The Walt Disney Company acquired Miramax in 1993. The Weinsteins continued to operate the purchased company – with more creative and financial independence than many other Disney divisions – until they left the company in 2005 to found The Weinstein Company. Disney sold Miramax to Filmyard Holdings LLC in 2010.
In it’s library of movies, Miramax developed such recognizable films as “The English Patient,” “Shakespeare In Love,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Chicago,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Pulp Fiction,” the “Kill Bill” films, and “ No Country for Old Men.” Collectively the Miramax archives have received 284 Academy Award nominations and 68 Oscars, including 4 Best Picture Awards.
