Director aiming to sever links with Weinsteins

The producer of Paddington 2 is battling to sever ties with the company co-founded by Harvey Weinstein.

David Heyman has said the hunt for an “alternative” distributor to The Weinstein Company was continuing just days away from the film’s UK release.

The animated sequel became an unlikely flashpoint of tensions in the Hollywood sex scandal when Mr Heyman signalled his desire to disavow the Weinstein name last month.

The influential film studio Weinstein helped establish was due to distribute Paddington 2 in North America.

Speaking at the film’s premiere at the British Film Institute in London, Mr Heyman said: “The Weinsteins have had nothing to do with the film, so it hasn’t interfered with the making of it at all.

“I don’t really want to talk about the Weinsteins at this moment, I want to focus on the film – that being said, we are looking for alternative distributors right now, all options are being explored. We are trying to break Paddington out of prison and find him a better home.”

Harvey Weinstein was sacked from his own company, which he ran with his brother, when allegations against him began to snowball last month.