Michael Moore

By Ian Mohr and Gregg Kilday
CANNES -- Miramax Films co-chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein are nearing a deal with Miramax parent The Walt Disney Co. to personally buy back in full Miramax's interest in Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The Weinsteins would then be free to find another distributor to release the film, which is scheduled to have its world premiere Monday at the Festival de Cannes.

Under the deal currently being discussed, the Weinsteins in effect would reimburse Miramax the $5 million-$6 million that Miramax advanced Moore last year.

The arrangement is said to be similar to one that the Weinsteins struck in order to take Kevin Smith's 1999 religious comedy "Dogma" to distributor Lions Gate after Disney refused to allow Miramax to distribute the film, which faced protests from some Catholics over its content.

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