Harvey Weinstein got tongues wagging this week with the announcement that his production company are making an anti-gun film, one that will star Meryl Streep and take a direct shot at the National Rifle Association. If his stance on gun ownership and violence wasn't already clear, the Hollywood producer has since admitted that he wants to see a crack down on film violence too and he will be at the forefront of this cut down.

Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein wants to see a change in the movie industry

Weinstein is known for producing some of modern cinema's most graphically violent film in recent years, forging a successful working relationship with Quentin Tarantino, with who he helped make the Kill Bill films, Django Unchained, Inglorious Basterds and Pulp Fiction, in addition to a host of other violent titles such as Gangs of New York, Sin City and the reboots of Piranha, Rambo and Halloween. Now the Hollywood powerhouse wants to hang up his fake blood and replica weapons for good, as he told CNN's Piers Morgan on Friday (17 Jan.) night that he can no longer advocate these types of films in good conscience.

"I can't do it," Weinstein said as he promised to movie his movie company's interests away from violent ventures. "I can't make one movie and say this is what I want for my kids, and then just go out and be a hypocrite."

Quentin Tarantino
Weinstein has forged a successful partnership with Quentin Tarantino over the years but may have to severe his ties with the filmmaker

As for his upcoming anti-NRA picture, Weinstein is confident that the film can have an influence over people's view of gun control, as he promised an "entertaining" title in a similar vein to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," with Streep starring as the US senator who goes head-to-head with the NRA. He said, "I know the power of what a movie can do, because a movie can galvanize a country."

The Weinstein Company is currently working on sequels for Sin City, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Halloween, as well as reboots for Knight Rider and The Crow, all of which promise to be relatively violent films. These will all be difficult films to produce if Weinstein is serious about holding off the on-screen gore and could suffer as a result. Quentin Tarantino is also working on another film, but if Weinstein is going to be sticking to his guns then the Pulp Fiction director may have to go elsewhere for financial backing.

Harvey Weinstein Mandela Premiere
The producer has overseen the release of many violent films over the years