In Your Face, Harvey: Scott Rudin Pulls His Name From ‘The Reader’
Photo: AFPThe awesome feud between easygoing producers Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin over The Reader — previous highlights include Weinstein's alleged harassment of Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella on their deathbeds, a million-dollar bet with Nikki Finke, and one moved-up release date — got even more exciting last night when Rudin decided to quit the project and remove his name from the film!As you'll recall, Weinstein recently scored an apparent victory by convincing poor director

Producer Scott Rudin Leaves The Reader
Scott Rudin has walked away from The Reader, and will no longer be involved in The Weinstein Co’s December release. Here is the situation, as I understand it. A couple weeks ago, Nikki Finke made claims that Harvey Weinstein had harassed both Sydney Pollack while on his deathbed and the widow of the late Anthony Minghella in an attempt to get the film into movie theaters for Oscar consideration. Finke was able to provide an email from Rudin to back up these claims. And then The Weinstein Co released a

Will We Ever Get to See ‘Killshot’? Maybe Not!
Put on a happy face!Photo: Getty ImagesThe non-hits just keep on comin' for Harvey Weinstein, who is clearly having the Best Month Ever (see: lost $1 million bet with Nikki Finke, Project Runway litigation, Scott Rudin hit jobs, the Tarantino tapes). The news surfaced yesterday that while Harvey was busy bullying Sydney Pollack on his deathbed to push up the release of The Reader, he was quietly pushing back the theater date of Killshot, a.k.a. the Most-Hyped Movie You Will Probably Never See. This is

Morning Memo: Harvey Weinstein Vindicated?; Bill Clinton Redirects His Energy; Janet Jackson Hospitalized
Scott Rudin has admitted that he lied to Page Six about an email that Harvey Weinstein supposedly sent to producer Sydney Pollack on his deathbed, along with the widow of another producer, Anthony Minghella, over issues related to the upcoming release of The Reader. [Gawker] During a talk about the joys of philanthropy featuring Bill Clinton, The Economist's Matthew Bishop noted, "Neuroscientists have monitored the part of the brain where you get the reward for giving, and it's the same place for sex

Weinstein Email Claims 'Untrue'
A series of emails accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of using heavy-handed tactics to win film release dates have been exposed as fakes. The film magnate recently found himself at the centre of claims that he pestered Sydney Pollack, one of the producers of new movie The Reader, about a release date for the film - shortly before he died of cancer in May (08). The emails - purportedly from The Reader co-producer Scott Rudin - also accused Weinstein of harassing the widow of Anthony Minghella, another o

Scott Rudin takes his name off ‘The Reader,’ walks away
UPDATE (9:58 p.m.): Thanks to one of our readers for pointing out that “The Reader” has been removed from The Weinstein Company’s official site.  Could it mean that Weinstein will fold after all?  Could the pain of getting a publicity team in place, dealing with Rudin’s all-in public play and general bad buzz make TWC see the light and move the film to 2009?  We’ll see… EARLIER: I love Scott Rudin.  All along, throughout this whole nasty affair, I have hoped he would

Scott Rudin leaves ‘Reader’
After a long and bruising battle with Harvey Weinstein over Stephen Daldry’s “The Reader,” producer Scott Rudin is leaving the project and taking his name off the film. Weinstein and Rudin have never gotten along. They clashed over Daldry’s 2002 “The Hours,” also written by David Hare, and again over the post-production schedule of “The Reader.” Rudin, the winner of the best picture Oscar for last year’s “No Country for Old Men,” had first

Scott Rudin Pulls Name off The Reader
Academy Award winning producer Scott Rudin has pulled his name off The Reader, the upcoming Stephen Daldry (The Hours) drama starring Kate Winslet that’s set to be released December 12. The announcement comes after Rudin and Harvey Weinstein had a very long and bruising battle over the release date. Variety reports that Weinstein and Rudin have never gotten along. They clashed over Daldry’s 2002 The Hours and again over the post-production schedule of The Reader. Rudin, the winner of the best pict

Reader is Rudin-Less
There's nothing much to add to Patrick Goldstein's story (posted late yesterday afternoon) about powerhouse producer Scott Rudin walking away from The Reader (Weinstein Co., 12.12), the David Hare-scripted WWII drama with Kate Winslet. I know that Rudin and Reader director Stephen Daldry are allies and amigos, having worked together on The Hours (which was also written by Hare). And that Daldry is pretty much on his own in the rush to finish The Reader in time for the early December release date

Reader is Rudin-Less
There's nothing much to add to Patrick Goldstein's story (posted late yesterday afternoon) about powerhouse producer Scott Rudin walking away from The Reader (Weinstein Co., 12.12), the David Hare-scripted WWII drama with Kate Winslet. I know that Rudin and Reader director Stephen Daldry are allies and amigos, having worked together on The Hours (which was also written by Hare). And that Daldry is pretty much on his own in the rush to finish The Reader in time for the early December release date

Weinstein-Rudin Divorce
The long-festering fight over the film The Reader reached a dénouement yesterday when Scott Rudin walked away from the film and took his name off it. Harvey Weinstein, who’s co-producing, had insisted The Reader come out in time for awards season, because the Harvey brand desperately needs a hit. Rudin was concerned that Reader star Kate Winslet would compete with herself for awards; she’s already starring in the Rudin-produced Revolutionary Road, also due in December. Now, it’s Har

BREAKING: Scott Rudin Yanks His Name From 'The Reader' [Feuds]
We don't always know what to believe anymore when it comes to The Reader, but after a turbulent period of fighting, making up, gossip-page ensnarement and a charity payout, no one watching the tormented relationship between Scott Rudin and Harvey Weinstein could have realistically expected it to survive another two months leading up the release of their troubled Kate Winslet drama. And right on cue, that eerie silence of the last week is ended this afternoon when Rudin reportedly stripped his name from the

Harvey Weinstein Loses Million-Dollar Bet With Nikki Finke
Harvey Weinstein may have won in his battle with producer Scott Rudin to push up the release date of The Reader so that it is eligible for Oscar consideration, but he just lost big time in a bet with Deadline Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke. Weinstein reportedly told Page Six that he would give $1 million to charity if Finke could produce proof of an e-mail she had quoted from Rudin, which alleged that Weinstein had harassed the late Sydney Pollack about moving up the film's release date. As it turns out, she

Scott Rudin is walking away from "The Reader"
Scott Rudin is walking away from "The Reader." The Oscar winning producer, who has been embroiled for weeks in a nasty squabble with Harvey Weinstein over the release date of the film, has decided to quit the project and take his name off the film. The two men have had a very contentious public feud over Weinstein's insistence that the film be released this year for Oscar consideration. Rudin and the film's director, Stephen Daldry, had insisted they needed more time to finish the picture. After intense neg

Damned Hollywood Lies [Update]
Hollywood producer Scott Rudin has admitted he lied to Page Six about an email he sent trashing Harvey Weinstein. We've updated our original post.

Scott Rudin admits Harvey Weinstein e mail is his
Scott Rudin confirmed "Monday night that it is his email describing Harvey Weinstein's alleged callous treatment of the late Anthony Minghella's and the deceased Sydney Pollack's families. Rudin claimed that HW's people pestered him to protect Harvey and deny the email and lie to Page Six"

Bet-Losing Harvey Weinstein Spends First $1 Million on 'Reader' Oscar Campaign [Liar Liar]
No distance seems far enough, no HazMat suit thick enough to defend against the radioactivity let off by Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin's toxic Reader mess. This morning we're getting an idea of the clean-up cost for both parties — none more prohibitive than Harvey's, who today pledged $1 million to charity if Nikki Finke could turn up Rudin's alleged e-mail accusing him of "harrassing" ailing Reader co-producer Sydney Pollack for a 2008 release date. Even Rudin told Page Six: "That is not my e-mail

Harvey Weinstein Just Lost A $1 Million Bet [Moguls]
What was Harvey Weinstein thinking? The movie mogul is already being dissed by once-pliant reporters and magazines, and struggling to right his company and other investments. Now he's given more ammunition to the haters and socked his pocketbook, all in one fast miscalculation. The Weinstein Company chief reportedly told the Post's Page Six he doubted the authenticity of an email quoted by pushy Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke, and offered $1 million for charity if Finke could produce the original. The email,

HARVEY: BLOG STORY'S 'INSANE'
POOR Harvey Weinstein claims he's being unfairly portrayed as a heartless ghoul who'll stop at nothing to get a movie finished in time for Oscar consideration. The mogul, known for his volcanic persuasiveness, denies he badgered Sydney Pollack, one of the producers of "The Reader," on his cancer deathbed, and pressured the widow of another producer, Anthony Minghella, shortly after Minghella died of a hemorrhage last March. This week, the Weinstein Co. boss got what he wanted when the release date of

Oscar Watch: Weakly 'Reader'
I was coming out of a screening in the Brill Building yesterday around noon when I saw Harvey Weinstein outside on Broadway, scowling. He didn't seem terribly approachable, so I didn't try. The very likely reason for his mood emerged later with a bombshell on Patrick Goldstein's L.A. Times blog that was confirmed on Anne Thompson's Variety blog. Both are reporting that Scott Rudin, who won last year's Best Picture Oscar for "No Country for Old Men'' and was also nominated for "There Will Be Blood'' is takin

Rudin retreats from Daldry's 'Reader'
Weekly Smoke and Mirrors: Producer clashes with Harvey Weinstein -- After a long and bruising battle with Harvey Weinstein over Stephen Daldry's "The Reader," producer Scott Rudin left the arena, exiting the pic last week and taking his name off the film.

Harvey Weinstein's Offer I Can't Refuse...
The New York Post's Page Six just called me saying Harvey Weinstein has told them he'll give $1 million to charity if I can produce the Scott Rudin email about HW's alleged callous treatment of Anthony Minghella's and Sydney Pollack's families. Because Harv doesn't think it exists. Question is, do I get to choose the charity? (I've blacked out the recipient of the email as well as SR's email address): Posted by Nikki Finke on Monday, Sep 29th, 2008 at 05:38PM | Permal

Rudin Exits Reader. Trade Roughage 10/10/08
Scott Rudin takes his name off THE READER; Josh Brolin put his name on JONAH HEX; Rebecca Mader joins MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS; Seth Rogen produces a cancer comedy; and BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA predicted to be #1 again this weekend.

Scott Rudin Throws Kate Winslet Under The Bus
The Reader pretty much guaranteed to suck now that its producer ditched it.

Rudin and Weinstein issue Oscars truce over ‘The Reader’
Forget the vicious gossip you’ve been hearing that Scott Rudin is battling behind the scenes to stop Harvey Weinstein from pushing up the release of the film they produced together, “The Reader” so it can land in this Oscar derby. Rudin also produced “Revolutionary Road,” which stars Kate Winslet too and is a major contender for Oscars. Some of the rumors have been juicy. One is that Rudin will trip Harvey up with a nasty lawsuit. Another claims that Winslet told Harvey that,