Harvey Weinstein screened his awards season movie “The Founder” for VIPs in Gstaad, Switzerland, over the weekend.
The film, out Jan. 20, follows Ray Kroc — the salesman who built McDonald’s from a 1950s burger stand into an empire. But the film is also said to be controversial.
Reports have said it “touches on questionable methods Kroc used to gain control of the company,” and the Hollywood Reporter called it “a Faustian parable.” But it received a rapturous response from viewers in the ski town, where attendees at the Alpina hotel event included billionaire Bob Manoukian, hotel co-owner Marcel Bach, Maurice Amon and members of the Goulandris shipping family.
We hear lawyers for McDonald’s have been champing at the bit to see it, though Weinstein has been keeping it under tight wraps.
So far, the film’s star, Michael Keaton, has been keeping a low profile as the awards season ramps up, even though he’s getting buzz as a potential Oscar nominee.
An insider explained: “Unfortunately, Michael has had several very close family members and friends pass away this holiday season and has been struggling to promote the film.”
A rep for McDonald’s did not immediately get back to us.