Dimension Films announced today that they have preemptively purchased THE WITCHES' BALLROOM, a pitch by Ray Wright. Wright previously wrote THE CRAZIES, and his last spec script, THE WIDOW, was recently sold to Vendome.
THE WITCHES' BALLROOM will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine at 21 Laps. The logline is currently being kept under wraps.
"I've been a huge fan of Ray Wright for a very long time now and we've been trying to find something to collaborate on. THE WITCHES' BALLROOM is going to terrify audiences in a way they've never seen before," said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.
"It's exciting when an original idea takes off, particularly psychological horror which is such a visceral thrill to write. Dimension is the perfect home for it," said Ray Wright.
Overseeing production for Dimension Films are SVP of Production and Creative Affairs, Matthew Signer and VP of Production and Development, Keith Levine.
The deal was negotiated for Dimension Films by Adrian Lopez, VP of Business and Legal and Matthew Signer and on behalf of Wright by UTA and Attorney Mark Temple.
About THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY & DIMENSION FILMS
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; 1408; 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; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; BULLY; THE INTOUCHABLES; LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; QUARTET; ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH; DARK SKIES; THE SAPPHIRES; SCARY MOVIE 5; KON-TIKI; and UNFINISHED SONG, FRUITVALE STATION, LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER, THE GRANDMASTER, SALINGER, and 12-12-12. Currently in release are PHILOMENA, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and VAMPIRE ACADEMY. Upcoming releases include ONE CHANCE, SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR and PADDINGTON.
TWC also boasts an active television production division led by former Miramax Films Co-President of Production Meryl Poster. TWC garnered nine Emmy nominations in 2013. The Weinstein Company Television produces the reality powerhouse Project Runway, now in its 12th season on Lifetime; with its spin-off series Project Accessory and the critically-acclaimed Project Runway All Stars, hosted by Alyssa Milano. TWC recently launched Million Dollar Shoppers and completed Supermarket Superstar hosted by Stacy Keibler for Lifetime as well as Rodeo Girls for A&E. TWC is currently in production on Mob Wives Season 4 for VH1 and Welcome To Myrtle Manor Season 2 for TLC. Announced scripted projects in development include John Fusco's historical action-adventure epic Marco Polo and an adaptation of Daniel Stashower's bestselling Civil War-era spy thriller The Hour Of Peril. TWC also developed Amy Sherman Palladino's The Nanny Diaries for ABC and produced the award-winning HBO series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, directed by Anthony Minghella.
