Exclusive Weinstein-Miramax negotiations extended through weekend

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The exclusive negotiating window between the Weinstein brothers and Walt Disney Co. over the acquisition of Miramax Films has been extended through the weekend, according to a person close to the talks.

Backed by supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and other investors, Bob and Harvey Weinstein are attempting to win back the specialty movie company they founded, sold to Disney and eventually were forced to vacate. The Weinsteins, whose Burkle-backed bid is valued at $625 million, originally had a five-day exclusive negotiating window with Disney, leaving two other bidders, brothers Alec and Tom Gores, and a company advised by David Bergstein in the wings.

Disney declined to comment on the status of the negotiations, as did a spokesperson for Weinsteins.

-- Dawn C. Chmielewski and Claudia Eller