The Weinstein Company sure look like they are going to have a lot of Oscar marketing to do this Winter. Having already picked up the Margaret Thatcher biopic
The Iron Lady starring
Meryl Streep AND the quite frankly amazingly inventive black and white silent movie
The Artist (which
I say is FANTASTIC) in the past fortnight - both of which look like they may have Awards potential -
news is emerging of a third potential statue contender that will soon be in their hands. Harry & Bob look to be closing in on a deal to take the distribution rights to
John Hillcoat's Prohibition period drama
The Wettest County in The World which completed shooting out in Georgia last month and most excitedly of all, they are eyeing a limited 2011 release (as opposed to the early 2012) before slowing rolling out in wider areas. As long as the film is released in key U.S. cities by the end of the year it would be eligible for Oscar consideration. Not only that but
the newly released image above also happens to be a new look at
Tom Hardy's character in the film. The newest collaboration between Australians
Nick Cave (script writer) and John Hillcoat (director) who together made
The Proposition and
The Road - the movie centers on the Bondurant brothers Forrest (
Jason Clarke), Howard (
Tom Hardy) and Jack (
Shia LaBeouf) a family bootlegging gang who find their moonshine dynasty in Franklin County, Virginia threatened by the authorities wanting a cut during the 30s Prohibition era.
Gary Oldman supports as the brothers employer and Hillcoats muse,
Guy Pearce, brought over from his previous films is a violent deputy hot on their heels.
Jessica Chastain and
Mia Wasikoswksa are Hardy and LaBeouf's love interests, respectively.
Previously titled The Promised Land, the movie is based on a novel by
Matt Bondurant and had looked like it would end up at Relativity Media but after their chief
Ryan Kavanaugh said he wouldn't give Hillcoat final cut (despite the film just beginning post-production) and Harvey Weinstein said he would... the fate of the film looks to have been decided elsewhere. There is also something of a relationship brewing between billionaire backer
Megan Ellison and
The Weinsteins (they are working on Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master together) and this blossoming partnership looks to have helped the deal. Weird to consider that the movie has ended up with Harvey (a deal is not yet inked but looks a formality at this stage) who was willing to give up final cut, but hey, he clearly thinks this movie will be as special as we all do. Gonna be interesting to see which of The Iron Lady, The Artist and The Wettest County in the World get the largest push this awards season.