"Gnomeo & Juliet" part of Disney's sale of Miramax
The upcoming feature film "Gnomeo & Juliet," a cartoon reworking of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet story set in a world inhabited by tacky garden gnomes, has emerged as one of the pictures included in Disney's sale of Miramax Films.
Disney agreed late Thursday to sell the Miramax name and film library to a group led by construction executive Ronald Tutor and investment firm Colony Capital. The price is $660 million.
Set for wide release February 11, Gnomeo & Julietis being made by Elton John's Rocket Pictures and is now in post-production. Voice cast members in the family tale of feuding indoor and outdoor gnomes include James McAvoy (as Gnomeo), Emily Blunt (as Juliet), Michael Caine, Maggie Smith and Patrick Stewart.
There had been some question about whether Gnomeo & Juliet would be included in the Miramax sale, as Disney very much wanted this film. Financed by Miramax, it was made under contract at the Starz Animation studio in Toronto.
Under the deal, Disney will continue to take care of distribution in all media for the new company for at least a year. The goal is to give Miramax time to hire an executive team and staff, as well as to establish an infrastructure for its own production and distribution.
