It’s been exactly 20 years since Harvey Weinstein exited Miramax in 2005, but the studio is returning to the Weinstein-produced film roots to mine IP for new TV series. Jonathan Glickman, who became the head of Miramax in 2024, confirmed to Variety that the studio is developing shows or limited series based on films like “Gangs of New York,” “Chocolat,” “The English Patient,” “Cop Land,” and “Shall We Dance.”
While the “Gangs of New York” series was already announced, with director Martin Scorsese executive producing and directing the first two episodes, it is clear that the 2002 feature is just one of the many early 2000s films that Miramax is looking to adapt into episodic viewing. The original feature that was produced by Weinstein infamously led Scorsese to contemplate quitting Hollywood due to its Billy Butcher-ed production. Yet Glickman is looking to take the Weinstein of it all out of Miramax’s history, while still benefitting from the convicted felon’s producer eye.
And Scorsese isn’t the only former Miramax filmmaker to return to the studio with a TV version of a project: “Cop Land” director James Mangold is involved in developing the TV version, while Jennifer Lopez is producing the “Shall We Dance” series.
Aside from the 2000s blast from the past, the 2023 Miramax Oscar-winning film “The Holdovers” will also be getting a TV adaptation, with Glickman telling Variety that he “hopes” director Alexander Payne will be involved in some capacity.
In general, Glickman’s goal for Miramax “involves investing in original movies and shows, along with dusting off decades-old properties from Miramax’s 700-title library of Oscar winners and genre fare,” as Variety reported.
“It’s a job that I was built to do,” Glickman said. “I’m a huge fan of film history, and Miramax’s library punches above its weight. It allows me to be satisfied creatively while appealing to my entrepreneurial side.”
As for the film side of things, Glickman said that Miramax is looking to annually produce five to eight features, with more than half of them consisting of original material. The estimated budget for a non-IP film will be between $30 million and $50 million.
Miramax isn’t the only studio resorting to the creative glory days of the 2000s. Disney has “Freakier Friday” out this year, while “Princess Diaries” and “The Devil Wears Prada” sequels are also in the works. Like Miramax, MGM and Universal are additionally spinning beloved IPs into series: MGM has “Legally Blonde” prequel show “Elle” and Universal announced a “Clueless” sequel series, too.
