Same Make, New Model...

Brought to you by a grant from the Stark Corporation...


The new issue of Empire is something worth getting if you're into Marvel superheroes that wear cool armor...

Nice looking new outfit for Shellhead, huh? Looking forward to this almost as much as Bob Iger is looking for that distribution deal with Paramount to end.

2012 can't come any sooner..

A Deppless Pirate Film For Disney...

Since all the new films that the newly reborn DreamWorks develops will be distributed by Disney this is ironic...

According to a USAToday article, Steven Spielberg is developing a Pirate film based on perhaps the last novel Michael Crichton did before his death entitled, "Pirate Latitudes." David Koepp is writing the adaption and Spielberg is producing with the possibility of directing it. The plot essentially is a "men on a mission" story wrapped in a pirate narrative about a group that tries to get into Port Royal and steal a Spanish galleon's treasure. It sounds a whole lot more exciting than Spielberg's remake of "Harvey."

Let's just hope the director isn't going through another "Hook Phase." He had a series of mostly forgettable pap before he finally did the trilogy of "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List" and "Amistad" back to back. Although the last one was the weakest of the three, it clearly put Spielberg back on track after several years wandering around looking for creativity. Perhaps he may have found it with some pirate gold?

He certainly didn't find it looking for a Crystal Skull...

How To Construct A Dream...

The Hollywood Reporter has all the inside nuts and bolts of the Disney/DreamWorks deal...

Give it a read if you're curious about such things, or happen to want to know what mezzanine financing is.

Oh and as has been discussed, when this deal was announced, many a Disney Fan/Geek's first thought was: "what about a Spielberg created Disney attraction?" Well over at Slashfilm, they've tried to put the breaks on this idea in a post entitled: "Why Steven Spielberg Won’t Contribute To Disney Theme Parks." They could be right, but all is not lost...

What Peter Sciretta, the author of the piece doesn't mention or hasn't heard is that Universal recently was asking the director to renegotiate his 2% fee on the parks. Here's a quote from Deadline Hollywood Daily:

"Spielberg was irritated that Universal came to him asking to renegotiate his longstanding 2% theme parks consulting deal dating back to the days when Lew Wasserman/Sid Sheinberg controlled the studio. These days, that's worth $50 million a year to the director. And Universal also asked to delay for 5 years Spielberg's '"put" deal -- his right to have the studio buy him out of the parks deal in a year."

- Nikki Finke

Spielberg balked. If they press the issue and he walks away from that deal we'll see if Disney would be willing to have him design an attraction with Imagineers.

I wonder what he'd do?

Disney/DreamWorks Dream Deal Done...

"We are tremendously pleased to join forces with Steven Spielberg, whose artistic vision and commitment to quality filmmaking are legendary. DreamWorks has had a great creative and commercial track record under the leadership of Steven and Stacey Snider and I am delighted they're now associated with Disney."

- Bob Iger

"Disney is the birthplace of imagination and has always been as close to the worldwide audience as any company ever has. I am so pleased that industry leaders like Bob Iger and Dick Cook reached out to become our distribution partner. This is a major step forward for us and Reliance."

- Steven Spielberg

It's official, directly from Walt Disney Studios...

The Mouse and DreamWorks Studios have entered an exclusive long-term distribution agreement. Disney will distribute all live action films by the company(Jeffrey is still stuck with Paramount, for now...). The Walt Disney Studios will distribute and market six DreamWorks film per year starting in 2010.

Now, as to what "long-term" means, is debatable. Days can be like decades in regards to Hollywood relationships, both on-screen and off. My guess is that it's a five/six year deal kind of thing. It'll be interesting to see what the first film of this partnership is and what other surprises develop. Roger Rabbit sequel? Shorts? A Spielberg directed "Lone Ranger" film perhaps?

Time will tell...

If You Build It, He Will Come...

Holy crap!

Just when you think the chance Disney had to snag Spielberg and company(literally) was gone the way of the Dodo Bird... boom!

It looks like the deal for Universal to distribute Dreamworks films has fallen through and the Mouse is the one to benefit from it, according to Nikki Finke. I wonder how Jeffrey Katzenberg feels about this. I mean, I know he has a grudge against Disney, but that's really a grudge against Eisner. Yes, I know Dreamworks is two different companies between live-action and animation, yada, yada, yada.

Expect a formal announcement by Monday...

The Race Is On...

All the studios are vying for the privilege to get into business with Steven Spielberg and his soon to be freed Dreamworks SKG...


The two main studios that are the odds on favorites are Universal and Walt Disney Studios with Fox a distant second. While the chances of Disney getting the distribution agreement aren't as good as Spielberg going with Universal,(he's had a long history with the studio) don't count Iger and Dick Cook out. They're a new face and don't carry the baggage that Eisner had when dealing with some of the talent in town...

Seems like the situation we described earlier this year is finally playing out.

Developing...

Disney Magic Via Miyazaki...

There's a really interesting review/article about "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" over at Time online. The film will be distributed by Disney next year and appears to be another example of the influence that animation master, Hayao Miyazaki had over John Lasseter.

Give it a glance, perhaps even a looksie...