Miramax buys back FAHRENHEIT 9/11

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2004
Source: Variety

Walt Disney Pictures has given its blessing for Miramax Films to buy back the rights to Michael Moore's new documentary picture FAHRENHEIT 9/11. After purchasing the rights last year, Disney announced last week that it had decided to not release Moore's controversial picture because it did not meet the so-called family criteria deemed appropriate for the studio, as well as containing explosive subject matter in an election year. Four years ago Disney encountered criticism from religious and private groups over the decision to release Kevin Smith's DOGMA film which contained religious subject matter in its fictional storyline. Ultimately Disney backed off and chose to ride out the controversy by allowing DOGMA to be released by Lions Gate Films.

Miramax heads Bob and Harvey Weinstein are said to now be in talks with independent film distributors regarding a deal to release FAHRENHEIT 9/11 into theaters this coming summer. According to Variety the top candidates for the job are Lions Gate, Focus Features and Newmarket Films, the latter of which released Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST this spring to tremendous box office response.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 is Moore's examination of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon America and how the Bush administration chose to handle the crisis. The film makes reference to the subsequent flight of the bin Laden family out of America in the days after the terror attacks and the connections between Bush and the bin Laden families.


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