DreamWorks and Disney inked a deal this last weekend that sets up DreamWorks and Disney for a great future in movie making. Both companies win from this deal. DreamWorks gets the loan they need to finalize their deal with Reliance and Disney adds six more films to their 2010 release schedule, bringing the total to 20 films.
DreamWorks remains intact and Disney has yet another blockbuster director/producer Steven Spielberg on their roster. For more details about the deal go to Variety.com.
DreamWorks is rushing around to find another distribution partner to take the place of Universal Pictures, which publicized their deal with DreamWorks just four months ago.
According to Variety, Universal has been engaged in talks with DreamWorks for the past two weeks to renegotiate the deal. DreamWorks was forced to modify the terms after it failed to raise money to match the $500 million invested in the company by Mumbai-based Reliance Big Entertainment. Thus, Universal and DreamWorks are not an item. Read the rest of this entry »
When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled a “monster” named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound. The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. This ragtag group consists of the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement time is cut short however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country.
Dreamworks Animation is known for its quality animated movies, the likes of which includes Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. The company’s chief Jeffrey Katzenberg recently gave a three-hour pitch to Wall Street analysts, talking about the company’s upcoming schedule, among other things.
First up, Katzenberg noted his belief that 3D will be the next big thing, saying that he will be personally disappointed if the upcoming Shrek Goes Fourth film didn’t have “at least 70% of admissions in 3D”.
He confirmed that a third Madagascar movie is in the works for release in 2012 and that the recent DVD release of Kung Fu Panda is expected to ship around 10 million units.
Variety reports that Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) is set to direct the film adaptation of five-part apocalyptic sci-fi miniseries Atlantis Rising.
In development at DreamWorks, the story begins when seismic disturbances at sea force world militaries to investigate the deepest part of the ocean, finding out an underground civilization that emerges to engage in war with the surface people.
The film is being produced by creator Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.
DreamWorks and Clint Eastwood are in talks about working together on the supernatural thriller Hereafter.
The talks are led by principals Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider. According to Variety, DreamWorks has been encouraging Eastwood to direct the project for months.
Based on the spec script penned by Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan, the story line is being hush-hush, but described similar to The Sixth Sense.
Eastwood and Spielberg have worked together in the past on Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima.
Those reporter types at the Hollywood Reporter carry word that Ben Stiller is in early talks to direct DreamWorks’ narrative film version of The Trial of the Chicago 7, a project which the likes of Steven Spielberg have been candidates to direct.
The film will be focused on the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention and their aftermath. This political drama would be a big departure for Stiller, who is known for comedies such as Tropical Thunder and Zoolander, among many others.
DreamWorks wants to get the film into production right away, though the final decision on the director is yet to be taken.
DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have recently concluded a seven-year distribution pact that would allow Universal to release DreamWork’s films. However, the deal will probably take effect in 2009 and will include 6 films per year. For everyone’s information, the biggest player for DreamWorks is award winning director Steven Spielberg.
As part of the deal, Universal will advance DreamWorks the marketing costs of the films.
Spielberg began his career making movies for Universal and kept his DreamWorks offices on the lot. In a statement, Spielberg said: “Universal has always been my home base, so this agreement starts a new chapter in what has been a long and successful association. While it feels great to come home again, it feels like I never left, and I look forward to working once again with our friends and colleagues, old and new.”
DreamWorks Animation officially confirmed a sequel to its animated hit Kung Fu Panda is in the works with a release date of June 3, 2011.
The film reunites Jack Black as kung fu fan Po, Angelina Jolie and other members of the original voice cast. Kung Fu Panda sequel will be released in 3-D — the new standard for all DWA movies starting next year — on regular and Imax screens worldwide. Awesome!!!
Jennifer Yu Helson, who was head of story on Panda, is promoted to director for the sequel – go girl.
If you look into the crystal ball of movie marketing, the 2011 date means that Panda will be sharing the summer with Disney/Pixar’s Cars 2, which Disney moved from a 2012 release to summer 2011 last week.
The original Panda grossed more than $626 million worldwide and is DWA’s most successful nonsequel. It will be released on two-disc DVD and Blu-ray, containing a new companion story Secrets of the Furious Five, on Nov. 9.
Dreamworks Animation is known for its quality animated movies, the likes of which includes Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. The company’s chief Jeffrey Katzenberg recently gave a 
Variety 
Those reporter types at the Hollywood Reporter carry 
