The Weinstein Company Goes SO UNDERCOVER With Miley Cyrus

NEW YORK, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from Exclusive Media Group (Exclusive) the U.S. distribution rights to SO UNDERCOVER, an action comedy starring Miley Cyrus (THE LAST SONG, "Hannah Montana," LOL).  The film, which was fully financed by Exclusive, is directed by Tom Vaughan (WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS), with a screenplay co-written by Allan Loeb (WALL STREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS, 21) and Steven Pearl. Along with Exclusive, the film is being produced by Loeb and Pearl through their company, Scarlet Fire Entertainment and by Tish Cyrus (THE LAST SONG, LOL). Executive Producers are Jodi Zuckerman-Weiner (HEARTS IN ATLANTIS) for Cyrus' production company, Hope Town Entertainment, and Rob Cowan (THE CRAZIES).  SO UNDERCOVER co-stars Jeremy Piven ("Entourage"), Mike O'Malley (CEDAR RAPIDS, "Glee") and Kelly Osbourne ("The Osbournes").  The announcement was jointly made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, TWC COO David Glasser and Exclusive Co-Chairmen Guy East and Nigel Sinclair. 

"We're excited to be working with Miley Cyrus as she transitions from child phenomenon to grown-up star.  She's got charisma and talent to burn, and SO UNDERCOVER shows her to be a deft comedic actress," said Glasser.  "This deal is a testament to the savvy instincts of Peter Lawson and his acquisitions team in scouting and securing those projects that will enhance TWC's release slate."

"We are thrilled to know that the film is now in great hands with Harvey Weinstein and his amazingly talented team at The Weinstein Company," said Sinclair and East.  Exclusive Films International (EFI), the International sales and marketing arm of Exclusive, is handling worldwide sales of this title and has sold most major foreign territories prior to and while at the European Film Market in Berlin last week.

The deal was negotiated for TWC by Glasser, Peter Lawson, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions, and Laine Kline, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs; and for Exclusive Media Group by Andy Mayson, Managing Director and CFO, and CAA, which also arranged financing for the film.

SYNOPSIS – SO UNDERCOVER

When the FBI hires her to go undercover at a college sorority, Molly Morris (Miley Cyrus) must transform herself from a tough, streetwise private investigator to a refined, sophisticated university girl to help protect the daughter of a one-time Mobster.  With several suspects on her list, Molly unexpectedly discovers that not everyone is who they appear to be, including herself.

The film will be released in October 2011 when schools are back in session.

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, most recently Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; Derek Cianfrance's Academy Award®-nominated BLUE VALENTINE; and John Wells' feature directorial debut, THE COMPANY MEN.  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; NINE; and 2011 Golden Globe® Best Foreign Language Film nominee THE CONCERT.   Recently wrapping is MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, Robert Rodriguez's SPY KIDS 4, and the new installment of the SCREAM franchise, SCREAM 4.  Currently in production is Douglas McGrath's I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT.

TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® Award-winning hit reality series "Project Runway," and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."  The company is producing two "Project Runway" spinoffs, "Project Runway: Masters" and "Project Runway: Accessories," which are expected to debut in 2011.  The company currently has 15 series in different stages of development, including: "Mob Wives," a reality series for VH1; "Marco Polo," a scripted historical series about the great explorer; "The Nanny Diaries," based on the hit book; and "The Mad Ones," adapted from the Mafia novel of the same name. 

ABOUT EXCLUSIVE MEDIA GROUP ("EXCLUSIVE")

Exclusive Media Group is a vertically integrated independent film studio which was founded by strategic investment group, Cyrte Investments, in May 2008. Exclusive comprises:

1.  Three development & production labels –

• Exclusive Films, whose maiden production, Peter Weir's The Way Back, is currently in theaters and who is also co-financing and co-producing George Clooney's The Ides of March, and fully financing and producing the Miley Cyrus action comedy So Undercover.

• Hammer Films, the iconic brand whose first production was Let Me In, is in post-production on The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe, and is about to release The Resident starring Hilary Swank.

• Spitfire Pictures, the specialist documentary film production house, which premieres the rock doc, Foo Fighters, and the sports doc Undefeated, at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival.

2.  US theatrical distributor – Newmarket Films which is about to release Hesher starring Joseph Gordon-Lovett and Natalie Portman.

3.  International Sales & Marketing Operation for in-house and third party product – Exclusive Films International.

4.  Exclusive Films International also monetizes a significant film library of over 550 film titles.

Exclusive is run by Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.  Sinclair also serves as Group CEO and President of Newmarket Films, East as Chairman of Exclusive Films International.  Simon Oakes serves as Vice-Chairman of the Group Board as well as President and CEO of Hammer.  Marc Schipper and Andy Mayson serve on the Executive Board, as COO and Managing Director/CFO respectively, overseeing the operations, finance and strategic development of the worldwide group.  Exclusive is a vertically integrated global film entertainment group which develops and controls its own intellectual property and exploits it on a cross-media basis in the digitally converged era.  Exclusive has an active development slate and produces, finances and markets 3-5 high-quality commercial feature films and documentary films per year from its three production labels.  Exclusive actively acquires further feature films for international distribution through Exclusive Films International, and for US distribution through Newmarket Films.  The Group also develops and produces programming for television and digital platforms.

Exclusive actively explores strategic expansion through M&A transactions and joint ventures – specific focus is on the acquisition of further high-quality film libraries and local territory distribution.

www.exclusivemedia.com

ABOUT HOPE TOWN ENTERTAINMENT

Hope Town Entertainment produces films to inspire, enlighten and entertain. The company is focused on developing a diversified slate with fresh, unique, character-driven projects in a wide range of genres.

So Undercover will be the first film released under the Hope Town Entertainment banner. Tish Cyrus also served as Executive Producer on The Last Song, LOL: Laughing Out Loud and Miley Cyrus in London: Live at the O2.

Hope Town is currently developing an adaptation of the first novel in Lisa McMann's young-adult paranormal thriller trilogy, Wake, for Paramount Pictures and MTV Films.  Miley Cyrus will star and Disturbia co-writer Christopher Landon is adapting the book for the screen.

SOURCE The Weinstein Company