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Why Can't They Just Get Along?

Inside the bitter feud that's breaking up Dreamworks and Paramount

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 17, 2007 4:25 PM CST
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(Newser) – Less than two years after Paramount acquired DreamWorks, executive tempers have boiled over. The much-heralded union has degenerated into a series of scathing personal attacks between the principals, Sumner Redstone and David Geffen. Shuttling between the bigwigs, Vanity Fair offers an in-depth look at the Hollywood war—and maybe even helps the titans settle scores.

Relations are so bleak that Geffen and DreamWorks partner Steven Spielberg are expected to resign. One Paramount bigwig stoked the fire by saying Spielberg's departure would be no big deal. When nasty stories began surfacing about Redstone's personal life, his people blamed Geffen. Before VF went to press, however, Geffen called writer Bryan Burrough to report a truce, saying his reporting aired grievances that healed "our personal relationship."

Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, center, talks to the media at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Friday, July 13, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, center, talks to the media at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Friday, July 13, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)   (Associated Press)
Movie and music mogul David Geffen,seen here in a file photo taken Dec. 4, 2006, in New York, is negotiating with Sam Zell on a possible deal for the Los Angeles Times following Zell's successful bid for Tribune Co., a published report says. (AP Photo/Paul Hawthorne-File)
Movie and music mogul David Geffen,seen here in a file photo taken Dec. 4, 2006, in New York, is negotiating with Sam Zell on a possible deal for the Los Angeles Times following Zell's successful bid...   (Associated Press)
Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone talks to the media at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference in this July 13, 2007 file photo, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, file)
Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone talks to the media at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference in this July 13, 2007 file photo, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, file)   (Associated Press)
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So is the feud over?
Variety

Redstone says he and Spielberg are just fine
New York Daily News

 
David Geffen • Hollywood • Steven Spielberg • feud • DreamWorks • Paramount

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