Now that Harvey Weinstein has made his big comeback with “The King’s Speech,” what next? On Sunday, Harvey added the “King’s” Best Picture statue to ones for “Chicago,” “Shakespeare in Love,” and “The English Patient.” Not bad, but there’s more to come now that The Weinstein Company is financially buoyant.
However: “King’s” director Tom Hooper hasn’t made up his mind about any new projects yet. On Sunday night, as we admired his Oscar, Hooper said he only wanted to take a break. “I’m thinking of going to Fiji,” he said. I doubt he will; Hooper is a worker. But still, even when he does go back to work I doubt he’ll shoot another period piece. At 37, he’s unlikely to become the new Merchant Ivory.
At the same time, Harvey has plenty of films to think about. Right now “I Don’t Know How She Does It” with Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Kelsey Grammer is shooting in New York. TWC also has very strong prospects for “My Week with Marilyn,” directed by Simon Curtis and starring Michelle Williams in what is said to be a stunning performance. At Sundance Harvey bought “My Idiot Brother” with Paul Rudd, and “The Details” with Tobey Maguire, Laura Linney and Elizabeth Banks. They are each going to do very well. He also recently picked up Ralph Fiennes’s “Coriolanus.”
And then, lurking out there somewhere, is the possibility of David O. Russell directing “The Silver Linings Playbook.” If they started by mid April, “Playbook” could make it for December. And then, there’s always the unknown. I am told that TWC’s Donna Gigliotti has a few surprises up her designer sleeves. So stay tuned. Harvey Weinstein is really back.
