Speilberg & Paramount Head for Divorce

A split between the DreamWorks braintrust and Paramount appears inevitable amid reports that director Steven Spielberg and partner David Geffen will seek new backers as soon as they're free to do so. The duo have been upset almost from the moment they sold Dreamworks to Paramount two years ago, complaining that the parent label takes credit for hits like "Transformers," and treats their friends poorly.

If Geffen opts out of his contract when it expires next year, a clause in Spielberg's contract allows him to follow, which in turn could release Stacey Snider, who runs DreamWorks. Such a divorce would require the Dream Team to ditch all in-progress projects—including a film adaptation of the bestseller "The Lovely Bones," whose rights Spielberg sought for years. (More DreamWorks stories.)