Suit: Spielberg Copied Hitchcock

Transformer sexpot axed for comparing director to Adolf

(NEWSER) - A key insider has finally confirmed what many suspected: Megan Fox got bounced from the Transformers series that made her famous because she compared her director to Adolf Hitler. The order to fire her came directly from producer Steven Spielberg, reports the Telegraph . The 25-year-old actress claimed last year that she was quitting—before production of the about-to-be-released Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon—in order to pursue other "acting" opportunities. But in fact she was drop-kicked by her bosses immediately after a tirade against director Michael Bay, in which she said he wants to be "like Hitler on his sets." More»

(NEWSER) - Steven Spielberg pulled a rabbit out of his hat today and signed on to adapt the Pulitzer Prize–winning play Harvey as his next film, Variety reports. First put on the big screen in 1950 starring Jimmy Stewart, the film about a man's friendship with a giant, invisible bunny is slated to begin production next year. It will kick off DreamWorks' new distribution and funding deal with Reliance and Disney. More»

Siblings plan to fight Dexter King's sale of movie rights to their father's life

(NEWSER) - The sale of the movie rights to Martin Luther King Jr.'s life has revived the feud among his three surviving children, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King say their brother Dexter—chief executive of the King estate—only informed them of the plans for a biopic to be directed by Steven Spielberg yesterday. The two do not consider the Dreamworks deal valid and they plan to fight it. More»

(NEWSER) - The first authorized biopic of Martin Luther King Jr. will be a Steven Spielberg production. The filmmaker's DreamWorks studio has obtained the rights from King's family, NPR reports. No word yet on whether Spielberg himself will direct or who will play the main role (Denzel? Jamie Foxx?). King’s children are notoriously protective of his legacy, and approval apparently came from son Dexter, who runs the estate. “We hope that this will be the definitive film on his life and legacy,” he said. More»

Spielberg's studio to get financing, distribution for six films a year

(NEWSER) - Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks has secured a distribution deal with Disney, the Wall Street Journal reports. Under the agreement, Disney will handle marketing and distribution for six live-action DreamWorks films per year and give Spielberg’s studio access to $150 million in financing. More»