DreamWorks and Disney Agree to Distribution Deal
The Walt Disney Studios has agreed to a long-term exclusive distribution deal with Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks SKG movie studio.
Under the terms of this arrangement, Disney will handle distribution and marketing for approximately six DreamWorks films each year. The first DreamWorks motion picture to be released under the Touchstone Pictures banner is scheduled to hit theaters in 2010.
The deal comes after Universal and DreamWorks had been unable to finalize their previously announced distribution arrangement. DreamWorks left Paramount in October to re-establish DreamWorks as a privately operated company.
Commenting on the announcement, Dick Cook said:
“We’re both thrilled and honored to be marketing and distributing all of DreamWorks’ signature upcoming live-action motion pictures, and to begin a new relationship with such respected colleagues as Steven, Stacey, and their creative team at DreamWorks. Steven has made some of the biggest and most loved films of all-time, and continues to be one of the great icons of our industry. Stacey has an impeccable reputation and a phenomenal track record for making a wide variety of quality films. Their motion pictures will be the perfect complement to the already robust slate of Disney and Touchstone films being made by Oren Aviv and his team.”
Universal Walks Away From DreamWorks Distribution Deal
Looks like Dreamworks is no longer interested in Universal’s Annual Pass offer and decides it would rather spend time in the Magic Kingdom.
Instead, DreamWorks heads Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider are in advanced talks with the Walt Disney Co. about a distribution deal. While other studios like Fox have also been mentioned as possible DreamWorks suitors in the past, a potential Disney deal appeared to be the only one on the table at the moment.
The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not finalized.
The talks came as Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal, said in a statement it ended negotiations with DreamWorks on a distribution deal the two announced in October, saying Spielberg’s company has “demanded material changes to previously agreed upon terms.”
Universal said:
“It is clear that DreamWorks’ needs and Universal’s business interests are no longer in alignment.”
Now Disney, which has cut back on its own release slate to concentrate on Disney-branded family entertainment, would appear to be in a position to accommodate a half-dozen DreamWorks releases per year.
The Uninvited Poster
Bloody-Disgusting has received the official poster for the upcoming “The Uninvited,” American remake of the South Korean horror film “A Tale of Two Sisters“. It looks very nice, very creepy, and very generic.
Based on a 2003 Korean horror film ‘Janghwa Hongryeon’ which is based on a classic Korean folk tale infused with ’70s British horror. The DreamWorks version centers on modern-day teenage sisters Anna (Emily Browning) and Alex Rydell who return home from a mental hospital only to find their recovery unraveling because of a cruel stepmother, clueless or seemingly ignorant father and a lingering, scary ghost. With their mental states deteriorating can they stay alive in a haunted house where the only thing they have is each other? Continue Reading…
“Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa” International Poster
We’ve got today a brand new poster for the upcoming DreamWorks Animation-led sequel “Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa“.
The film brings back returning stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter and Sascha Baron Cohen. Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath co-directed.
To get off Madagascar, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane – sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just enough to make it to the wildest place of all – the vast plains of Africa itself – where our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. While discovering their roots, they quickly realize the difference between the concrete jungle and the heart of Africa. Despite long-lost relatives, romantic rivals and scheming hunters, Africa seems like a “crack-a-lackin” great place… but is it better than their Central Park home? Continue Reading…
“Tropic Thunder” Photo Gallery
Paramount has released batch of new photos from the upcoming Ben Stiller Summer war comedy “Tropic Thunder.”
“Tropic Thunder” is a comedy about five actors who go on location and find themselves relying on their boot camp experiences when they get stuck in a real war-like situation.
Continue Reading…
“Eagle Eye” Full Trailer
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks has released the second full-length trailer for its upcoming D.J. Caruso directed thriller “Eagle Eye“.
In the fast-paced race-against-time-thriller “Eagle Eye” Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are two strangers who become the pawns of a mysterious woman they have never met, but who seems to know their every move. Realizing they are being used to further her diabolical plot, they must work together to outwit the woman before she has them killed.
The story is based on a Steven Spielberg idea, which will feature a couple of agents played by Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 26th.
Watch “Eagle Eye” trailer after jump Continue Reading…
“Get Smart” Easily Beats “The Love Guru” in North America
Warner Bros. thriller-comedy “Get Smart” is expected to top the box office in North America this weekend as the film takes in estimated 39.1 million dollars over the four-day period, according to preliminary figures released Sunday.
“Get Smart,” starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, is the latest big-screen adaptation of the popular 1960s sitcom about the bumbling U.S. agent Maxwell Smart on a mission to stop a plot by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s heavily-marketed comedy “The Love Guru,” the weekend’s other new wide release, is pegged to finish in a sad fourth place at the box office, with just 14 million dollars in receipts, the Los Angeles-based box office tracking firm Media By Numbers predicted.
In a near-tie for second place were two movies that premiered earlier. DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda” will take in 21.7 million dollars over the weekend, narrowly followed by last week’s box office leader, Marvel Studios‘ “The Incredible Hulk,” with an estimated take of 21.6 million dollars.
The panda movie has grossed estimated 155.6 million dollars in North America since its release three weeks ago, and the hulk, in its second week of release, has a track record of 96.4 million dollars. The two films were close enough that their rankings could change when final numbers are released Monday.
- Get Smart : $39.15m
- Kung Fu Panda : $21.70m
- The Incredible Hulk : $21.55m
“Madagascar 2″ Trailers
Madagascar 2, DreamWorks upcoming animated sequel, also known as “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa“, has its first trailer. They’ve done a good job of reminding us of just how funny and fun the first movie was.
In “Madagascar 2: The Crate Escape,” all the loveable characters are back — Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins. Left marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane – sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all – the vast plains of Africa itself — where our zoo-raised crew encounters species of their own kind for the very first time. While discovering their roots, they quickly realize the differences between the concrete jungle and the heart of Africa. Despite long-lost relatives, romantic rivals and scheming hunters, Africa seems like a “crack-a-lackin” great place…but is it better than their Central Park home? And, as you know, especially if you sat through the first “Madagascar” with your kids, Alex is voiced by Ben Stiller.
The film will hit theaters on November 7th.
Transformers’ Sequel Gets a Title: Revenge of the Fallen
Paramount and Dreamworks Pictures today announced the official title for the new “Transformers” film. The now filming sequel will be called “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen“.
‘Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen’ started shooting on June 2nd in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The film will star Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and is due out for release on June 26th, 2009.
More set photos from the shoot are available at Transformers World
“Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa” Poster and New Photos
Nine new images and poster for the upcoming DreamWorks Animation-led sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa have popped up online courtesy of a USA Today feature. The film brings back returning stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter and Sascha Baron Cohen. Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath co-directed.
To get off Madagascar, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane – sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just enough to make it to the wildest place of all – the vast plains of Africa itself – where our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. While discovering their roots, they quickly realize the difference between the concrete jungle and the heart of Africa. Despite long-lost relatives, romantic rivals and scheming hunters, Africa seems like a “crack-a-lackin” great place… but is it better than their Central Park home?
“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” hits theaters on November 7th 2008.
More images here
