LOS ANGELES, Sept 22 (AFP) - Hollywood's Miramax studios is poised to throw its backing behind Michael Moore's next movie following the record success of his political screed "Fahrenheit 9/11," a report said Wednesday.
Entertainment industry bible Daily Variety reported that the maverick studio that took on "Fahrenheit," which bashes US President George W. Bush, is preparing to finance and distribute his documentary that will take aim at the US health system.
The studio, run by Hollywood moguls Harvey and Bob Weinstein, appear ready to take on Moore's new film, tentatively titled "Sicko," despite their run-in with Miramax parent Walt Disney Corp. over distributing the controversial "Fahrenheit."
Disney, run by embattled chief executive Michael Eisner, refused to distribute the film and sold the rights to the Weinsteins, who formed a separate production company to handle the film.
But Variety said it remained unclear what Disney's attitude to a new Moore documentary was, given that "Fahrenheit" was politically divisive but lucrative for its makers and backers.
"Fahrenheit 9/11," which flayed Bush over his decision to go to war in Iraq, cost just six million dollars to make and has raked in around 120 million dollars in North America alone since its June release.
The film became the first documentary ever to top the US box office and its ticket receipt returns have set new records for the genre.
Representatives for Miramax declined to confirm Variety's report and Moore could not immediately be reached for comment.