Yesterday, the Weinstein Company announced that it had acquired the latest film from Stephen Gaghan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Traffic and director of Syriana, called Gold starring Matthew McConaughey and Edgar Ramirez. The Weinstein Company plans to release the film through their Dimension Films banner, though there’s no information on whether or not Gold will hit theaters in 2015 or 2016.
From the press release:
New York, NY – March 30, 2015 – Bob and Harvey Weinstein announced today that they have acquired the highly sought after mining drama GOLD, inspired by the true story about the 1993 Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal where large amounts of gold were reportedly discovered in the Indonesian jungle. The film will be released under their TWC-Dimension banner.
Directed by Stephen Gaghan (TRAFFIC, SYRIANA), GOLD stars Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (INTERSTELLAR, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB) as a failing businessman and prospector that teams up with a luckless geologist/explorer played by Edgar Ramirez (ZERO DARK THIRTY). The duo heads into the Indonesian jungle on the trail of undiscovered gold.
Written by Patrick Massett & John Zinman, GOLD is being produced and financed by Black Bear Pictures. Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman (THE IMITATION GAME) will produce alongside Hwy61’s Michael Nozik (QUIZ SHOW, SYRIANA), Massett, Zinman and McConaughey. Hwy61 partner Paul Haggis (CRASH) will executive produce with Richard Middleton (HITCHCOCK, THE ARTIST) and Black Bear’s Ben Stillman.
“We are beyond thrilled to partner with the Weinsteins on GOLD, and so appreciate their tremendous passion for this film,” said Schwarzman and Nozik.
“Harvey and I were so intrigued by the unique and compelling story behind GOLD and couldn’t be more excited to work with this highly esteemed group of filmmakers and artists,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman The Weinstein Company. “We loved working with Teddy on THE IMITATION GAME and we see this movie having the potential to be both a commercial and artistic success.”
The deal was negotiated for TWC-Dimension by David Glasser, COO and President and Michal Steinberg, EVP Business/Legal Affairs & Acquisitions; and on behalf of the film, by CAA and Black Bear Pictures’ Daniel Steinman.