The brothers and their current production venture, The Weinstein Company, just inked a deal that handed them back the rights to some of their most iconic films, after owner Colony Capital said it wanted the Weinsteins' industry connections and business savvy to help shepherd the movies into new mediums.
The first fruits of the new partnership will be developing sequels to Best Picture winner "Shakespeare in Love" and card shark flick "Rounders," the latter of which Harvey Weinstein told Deadline would be "instantaneous." Weinstein said he's already spoken to star Matt Damon about reprising his role -- co-star Edward Norton is also on board -- and that writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman already have an idea in place. Robert De Niro is being eyed to play a villain.
"Good Will Hunting," which nabbed Damon and Ben Affleck an Oscar for its screenplay and Robin Williams the Best Supporting Actor trophy, is set to become a television series, as is an early David O. Russell film, "Flirting With Disaster." Deadline reports that the Weinsteins will also help develop existing Colony Capital/Miramax projects including comedy "The Alibi," written by Stephen Colbert, about a service that comes up with cover stories for unfaithful spouses.
All in all, it sounds like audiences are in for a lot of new content over the next two decades -- the length of the TWC/Colony Capital contract -- and the Weinsteins stand to make a lot more money.
"It's like unlocking a kingdom full of gold," Harvey told Deadline.
[via Deadline]