Miramax Films is wasting no time getting back into the game now that the company has been sold and a new CEO (Michael Lang) has been installed. Deadline reports that the former independent juggernaut will be teaming up with The Weinstein Company in order to produce possible sequels and TV projects based on some of the more well-known Miramax properties.
The first projects from the joint venture include Rounders (not shocking since poker is big right now), Bad Santa, and Shakespeare in Love. Other properties being bandied about include Bridget Jones’ Diary, Cop Land (really?!?), From Dusk till Dawn (which they already have done many sequels to), Swingers, Clerks, Shall We Dance, and The Amityville Horror. In essence, Miramax is going to be pushing to get their name out by whoring out properties people already know, and considering how remake and sequel-oriented Hollywood is, that should be no shock.
Still, is this really necessary? None of those movies seem like they need sequels (at least the ones that already don’t have them), nor should they be turned into TV shows (Clerks especially since they already tried a live action show in the mid-90’s and it didn’t even make it past pilot stage). This just reeks of pure unadulterated desperation, a way for Miramax to regain some sort of foothold in a movie business they were once one of the big players of.
And although this was just announced, the two companies have already worked together on two sequels that are being released next year: Scream 4 (April 15th, 2011) and Spy Kids 4 (August 19th, 2011). Both are already franchises so these sequels don’t really have the oomph that the others they have announced will, but I’m going to be keeping an eye on the quality of these two, in order to see how this partnership will potentially turn out. Either they have their heads on straight and make some good entertainment…or this is just a cash grab and they will ruin the properties many hold dear in their hearts.
What do you think about the plan to give a bunch of sequels and TV adaptations to already proven work? Good business strategy in theory or not, should they be going this route or concentrating on new properties?