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Speilberg & Paramount Head for Divorce

Unhappy DreamWorks director will likely seek new backer

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 21, 2007 3:35 AM CDT
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(Newser) – 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.

This computer generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from Shrek The Third. Pictured from center to left are animated characters, Shrek voiced by Mike Myers, Puss In Boots voiced by Antonio Banderas, cousin Artie voiced by Justin Timberlake and Donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy. The film looks...
This computer generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from "Shrek The Third." Pictured from center to left are animated characters, Shrek voiced by Mike Myers, Puss In Boots voiced...   (Associated Press)
This computer generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from Shrek The Third. Pictured from left, Donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy, Puss In Boots voiced by Antonio Baderas, Shrek voiced by Mike Meyers and Fiona's underachiever cousin Artie voiced by Justin Timberlake and magician Merlin, voiced by Eric...
This computer generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from "Shrek The Third." Pictured from left, Donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy, Puss In Boots voiced by Antonio Baderas, Shrek voiced...   (Associated Press)
This computer-generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from Shrek The Third. From left, animated characters are the obsessive-compulsive Cinderella, voiced by Amy Sedaris; prissy-but-sarcastic Snow White, voiced by Amy Poehler; Princess Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz; opinionated Rapunzel, voiced by Maya Rudolph, and narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty, voiced...
This computer-generated image released by Paramount Pictures shows a scene from "Shrek The Third." From left, animated characters are the obsessive-compulsive Cinderella, voiced by Amy Sedaris; prissy-but-sarcastic...   (Associated Press)
Panel host Jeff Walker, bottom right, looks on as Steven Spielberg, left, Karen Allen, center, and actor Harrison Ford, right, speak via satellite from the set of Indian Jones 4 during the Paramount Pictures panel discussion at Comic Con in San Diego, Calif. on Thursday, July 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan...
Panel host Jeff Walker, bottom right, looks on as Steven Spielberg, left, Karen Allen, center, and actor Harrison Ford, right, speak via satellite from the set of "Indian Jones 4" during the Paramount...   (Associated Press)
Director Steven Spielberg dons a cap as he leaves the funeral of Jack Valenti, the former White House aide and film industry lobbyist, Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Director Steven Spielberg dons a cap as he leaves the funeral of Jack Valenti, the former White House aide and film industry lobbyist, Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle...   (Associated Press)
Steven Spielberg arrives at the Women In Film 2007 Crystal Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Steven Spielberg arrives at the Women In Film 2007 Crystal Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)   (Associated Press)
Steven Spielberg arrives at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, May 1, 2007 to attend the funeral service for Jack Valenti. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Steven Spielberg arrives at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, May 1, 2007 to attend the funeral service for Jack Valenti. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)   (Associated Press)
Movie and music mogul David Geffen, seen here in a file photo taken Dec. 4, 2006, in New York.
Movie and music mogul David Geffen, seen here in a file photo taken Dec. 4, 2006, in New York.   (Associated Press)
This animated image released by DreamWorks shows a scene from Shrek the Third.
This animated image released by DreamWorks shows a scene from "Shrek the Third."   (Associated Press)
In this computer animated image released by Paramount Pictures, Princess Fiona along with, left to right, obsessive-compulsive Cinderella, Doris the ugly stepsister, prissy-but-sarcastic Snow White and narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty set out to aide Shrek in a scene from Shrek the Third. The Shrek films have made blockbuster business out of...
In this computer animated image released by Paramount Pictures, Princess Fiona along with, left to right, obsessive-compulsive Cinderella, Doris the ugly stepsister, prissy-but-sarcastic Snow White and...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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Losing DreamWorks would be 'completely immaterial'
Variety

Katzenberg backs up Speilberg, takes shot at Paramount
Variety

Spielberg feels slighted, worries DreamWorks is losing its character
International Herald Tribune

'They're gone,' predicted one exec in July
Newser

Spielberg feels Paramount treats his friends shabbily
BusinessWeek

 
David Geffen • Hollywood • Viacom • Steven Spielberg • film • Paramount Pictures • DreamWorks • Stacey Snider • movies

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