Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” will be distributed by the Weinstein Company next Christmas 2013. With an all star cast of Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, and tons of cameos by people like Mariah Carey, Liev Schreiber, Jane Fonda, Alan Ricman, Vanessa Redgrave and Robin Williams, “The Butler” is already set up as the Oscar film of 2014.
Daniels has been shooting down in New Orleans for weeks. Obviously, Harvey Weinstein has liked what he’s seen of the footage and snapped up the rights. The screenplay is by Danny Sfrong, who just won an Emmy last night for “Game Change.” “The Butler” traces the life of a real life butler who served eight US presidents.
The Weinstein Company is already bracing for a huge Oscar march this winter with “The Master,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Sapphires,” and “Django Unchained” among others.
