Fresh off taking home Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director at the Oscars, The Weinstein Company is ready to take “The King’s Speech” for another round in theaters but this time, you’ll be able to bring your kids.
The Weinstein Company has announced that the PG-13 cut of “The King’s Speech” will hit theaters on April 1st, yes, April Fools Day, and we’ll avoid the easy jokes. In lead-up to the Oscars, the Weinsteins submitted a new cut of the film — made without Tom Hooper‘s approval — to the MPAA and were given the thumbs up on a PG-13 rating in this new version, which mutes or reduces the number of f-bombs in a single sequence in the film. The studio was also given a waiver to get the film into theaters earlier rather than wait 90 days — which is generally the buffer required for a re-edited movie — provided they inform audiences that the movie is a different version that the one that was previously released.
Somewhat tellingly, the press release has no comment from Tom Hooper who only got to see the edited version of his movie on the Monday following the Oscars.
Citing pressure from school groups and whatnot who wanted to show the film to their students, the Weinsteins pressed on for a re-edit so they could get it to that market. But none of the film’s talent seem to be on board with decision — Colin Firth said last month, “I don’t support it. I think the film has its integrity as it stands.” — don’t be surprised if there is little participation from the director or cast in getting the word out about this new cut of the movie.
