Disney’s Miramax may have shut its doors on Thursday, but a lingering question remains: Who will take the company’s name? As has been reported in the past, Miramax’s original founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein would certainly like to nab the moniker created out of their parents’ first names. But there’s a rub, a source told Deadline.com: “Disney will not sell the Miramax name to anyone unless they also buy the library.” With that news also comes word from Deadline that Summit may be interested in the whole package.
Harvey told Deadline, “We founded Miramax 29 years ago, naming it after our parents Miriam and Max. If there is ever an opportunity to make a deal to buy it back, we would certainly take it and there isn’t much in the world that would make our 83-year-old mother happier.”
But, based on Deadline intel, Summit has apparently sent out “very preliminary” feelers to Disney about buying the Miramax name and library. “It’s along the lines of, ‘Hey, if I were interested, let me see what I can come up with,'” one insider told the site. “That doesn’t mean others won’t come forward. Disney would be open to someone willing to pay the right price.
But after downsizing Miramax over the past 3 years, the financial burden isn’t what it was.”
Deadline, citing sources, says Summit so far is the only company to actually contact Disney about the Miramax library. But, also interested, even though it hasn’t approached Disney yet, is said to be the private equity firm Dune Entertainment.
