The Weinstein Company Steps Up In Animation Adding Three New Titles For Theatrical Distribution

NEW YORK, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weinstein Company is gearing up for its biggest year of family friendly entertainment yet with multiple animated films coming to theaters in 2013. Buoyed by the heat that ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH is generating and the inside buzz that is building on the project, TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein announced the slate and release dates for TWC's upcoming animated films. In addition to ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH, upcoming releases include: SANTAPPRENTICE, THE TRICK OR TREATERS and LEO THE LION.

Said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, "Following the success of THE LORAX, RANGO and the continued achievements of some of the industry's most successful animated filmmakers, we are producing animation with comedic stories that the entire family can enjoy. ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH already boasts a great cast including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Brendan Fraser, James Gandolfini, Craig Robinson and Rob Corddry. We will be utilizing all of our relationships with top talent across the board to deliver the appropriate comedic tone and entertainment."

ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH, a CG-animated comedy, will be in theaters on February 14, 2013.  In ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH, made in association with GRF, astronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet. LEO THE LION, the story of a young vegetarian lion who is seen as an outcast among his fellow lions, will be released on August 30, 2013. THE TRICK OR TREATERS, a tale of villains pilfering from the countryside until they are charmed by a young orphan girl, will be in theaters on October 25, 2013. SANTAPPRENTICE, which tells the story of a young orphan who is chosen to replace Santa when he retires, will be out on December 6, 2013. A-list voice talent will be announced closer to release. In development is franchise project CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE, written by Evan Spiliotopoulos whose credits include THE LION KING 1 1/2, THE JUNGLE BOOK 2; and MICKEY, DONALD, GOOFY: THE THREE MUSKETEERS.

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes.  TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards®, the most wins in the studio's history. The tally included Best Picture for Michel Hazanavicius's THE ARTIST and Best Documentary Feature for TJ Martin and Dan Lindsay's UNDEFEATED. THE ARTIST brought TWC its second consecutive Best Picture statuette following the 2011 win for Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I'M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH'S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. Currently in release are THE ARTIST; THE IRON LADY; CORIOLANUS; W.E.; UNDEFEATED; and BULLY. Upcoming releases include THE INTOUCHABLES. Recently wrapped was SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, and currently in production is DJANGO UNCHAINED.

TWC is also active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production and current President of Television Meryl Poster, with credits including the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series Project Runway, spin-off series Project Accessory and Project Runway All Stars, the VH1 reality series Mob Wives, and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which also received a Peabody Award. The company is currently in pre-production on the martial-arts epic Marco Polo for Starz as well as production on the second season of Mob Wives and the newest installment in the series' franchise Mob Wives Chicago. TWC additionally has 17 series in different stages of development, including The Nanny Diaries, being adapted for ABC by Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls).

SOURCE The Weinstein Company