This Week in the Biz

This past Wednesday, Harvey and Bob Weinstein announced their slate of films that they are developing with their new Weinstein Co. venture. They have finacial backing from Goldman Sach's and one of the most significant projects set to be released Spring '06 is "Grind House," two films packaged together from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. The famed directors will each write and direct a 60-minute horror film and will have individual trailers. The Weinsteins, also announced this week, they are taking Miramax distribution chief Mike Rudnitsky with them to their new company after September 30. According to Gregg Kilday of The Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood Reporter, here's the film slate for Weinstein Co.:

"Wolf Creek," the Australian horror film directed by Greg McLean, which the Weinsteins acquired at the Sundance Film Festival, will open Nov. 18.

"Matador," a black comedy about a hitman, co-financed by Disney, starring Pierce Brosnan and directed by Richard Shepard, will open as an exclusive release Nov. 18.

"Transamerica," a film by Duncan Tucker for which Felicity Huffman won the best actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival for playing a transsexual, will open an exclusive release Dec. 2.

Chen Kaige's epic "The Promise," a partnership between IDG New Media Fund and the Weinstein Co., will open exclusively Dec. 16.

"Mrs. Henderson Presents," another Disney co-financed project, directed by Stephen Fears and starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, will open exclusively Dec. 25.

"The Gathering," a thriller from Brian Gilbert starring Christina Ricci, is set for release Jan. 6.

"Feast," director John Gulager's horror film, which was the subject of Bravo's "Project Greenlight 3," will open Jan. 20.

"Pulse," a remake of the Japanese horror film "Kairo," will be released by Dimension on March 3.

"Killshot," directed by John Madden, adapted from the Elmore Leonard novel by Hossein Amini and executive produced by Tarantino, will open March 17.

"Scary Movie 4," a Disney co-production reuniting director David Zucker and his creative team from "Scary Movie 3," will open wide from Dimension on April 14 for Easter weekend.

"Sin City 2," a sequel to the Rodriguez/Frank Miller film, another Disney co-production, will be released by Dimension in summer 2006.