Bob and Harvey Weinstein have acquired Matthew McConaughey‘s mining drama “Gold” and will release the film under their TWC-Dimension banner, the duo announced Monday.
Stephen Gaghan will direct the film, which is inspired by the true story about the 1993 Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal, where large amounts of gold were reportedly discovered in the Indonesian jungle.
Oscar winner McConaughey stars as a failing businessman and prospector who teams up with a luckless geologist/explorer played by Edgar Ramirez (“Zero Dark Thirty”). The duo heads into the Indonesian jungle on the trail of undiscovered gold.
Written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman, “Gold” is being produced and financed by Black Bear Pictures. Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman (“The Imitation Game”) will produce alongside Hwy61’s Michael Nozik, Massett, Zinman and McConaughey. Hwy61 partner Paul Haggis will executive produce with Richard Middleton and Black Bear’s Ben Stillman.
“We are beyond thrilled to partner with the Weinsteins on ‘Gold,’ and so appreciate their tremendous passion for this film,” Schwarzman and Nozik said in a joint statement.
“Harvey and I were so intrigued by the unique and compelling story behind ‘Gold’ and couldn’t be more excited to work with this highly esteemed group of filmmakers and artists,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. “We loved working with Teddy on ‘The Imitation Game’ and we see this movie having the potential to be both a commercial and artistic success.”
The deal was negotiated for TWC-Dimension by David Glasser and Michal Steinberg and on behalf of the film by CAA and Black Bear Pictures’ Daniel Steinman.
McConaughey is currently filming Gary Ross’ Civil War drama “Free State of Jones” with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell and Mahershala Ali.