This could be inneresting!

Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are joining forces to develop a series based on King's recently released thriller, The Dome. Dreamworks TV has optioned the book and will market it as a limited event series for cable.

The company is starting to meet with writers for the project, which centers around an invisible force that overruns a small Maine vacation town. The force drives surviving locals into groups that wage war on each other.

That's it?!

Both Spielberg and King will serve as executive producers, but the idea seems kinda lame!

Will U be keeping your eye out for the invisible force?!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 31 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

Director Steven Spielberg has just agreed to continue on as creative consultant for Universal Studios' theme parks through 2017. The deal was inked in part to prevent Spielberg from contributing to Disney attractions where DreamWorks now resides.

Spielberg used to get a substantial cut from the parks in Orlando and Japan, receiving 5% of all gross revenue totaling about $50 million per year but the ante has now been upped to 5.25%!

The deal also delays Spielberg's eventual payout when his contract with the parks ends. Universal has a massive debt at the moment and if they were to pay Spielberg for his stake in the parks at this moment it would be close to $250 million!

But Steven is staying until 2017 which is a pretty wise move as Universal is poised to make some big bucks over the next few years with parks opening in Dubai, Singapore and South Korea as well as the 2010 opening of the highly-anticipated "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at the Islands of Adventure park in Orlando.

And the rich get even richer!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 22 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

Good choice!

Robert Downey Jr. has snagged the coveted lead role in Steven Spielberg's remake of Harvey.

Harvey was originally a Pulitzer prize-winning play that was eventually made into a movie in 1950 starring Jimmy Stewart.

Downey would take on the role of kooky character Elwood P. Dowd who befriends an invisible six foot rabbit named Harvey.

Both Will Smith and Tom Cruise were also said to be up for the role.

Pretty stiff competition, but we really like RDJ and think that he will do well!

Maybe he'll even garner some Oscar buzz as Jimmy Stewart was nominated for Best Actor in this role!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 29 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

How sweet!

It's been a long time since E.T. phoned home, but it seems that Steven Spielberg still has a soft spot for Drew Barrymore. He showed up to the premiere of her directorial debut movie, Whip It, last night!

That was nice of him, supporting the younger generation. Plus, how cute do they look together again?!

No sign of Justin Long, though.

Just saying!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 40 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

Spielberg + musical = winning combination!

Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks and Showtime are developing a scripted dramedy chronicling the makings of an original Broadway musical.

If the series is a success, they would get two shows out of it! The very ambitions intention is to take the musical to the Great White Way after the series airs.

And it's not a reality show?!

A team is being assembled to script the show, which will offer a backstage look at every aspect of launching a musical.

Chicago producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are in talks to sign on along with the creators of the Hairspray music, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

The show is said to include multiple points of view on the start to finish process and detail the personal lives of the key players. It has not been decided whether each episode will be half-hour or hourlong.

So, a less funny, Broadway-based 30 Rock or a functional version of The Hills?!

We can't figure it out, but we'll give it a shot!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 9 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

As the 67-year old actor accepted his lifetime achievement award at the Deauville Film Festival this past week, Harrison Ford was eager to discuss his next project - Indiana Jones 5!

Yikes!

We envision it will center around his need to find the ancient, mythical Social Security check!

"The story for the new Indiana Jones is in the process of taking form," divulged Ford. "Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I'll be very happy to put the costume on again."

We hope it fits!

Since last year's sucktacular continuation of the franchise, we thought Harrison would give up on the action hero life for a more senior citizen calmly paced existence, but that is far from true.

Maybe it's time he steps aside for a more Sean Connery type of role! Everyone needs a wise elder!

Will U see Indy 5?!

Permalink / 40 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

This is gonna be HUGE!

Dreamworks has purchased the rights to the late Michael Crichton's final manuscript entitled Pirate Latitudes, a film set in 1665 that centers around an plan to infiltrate Port Royal, Jamaica, one of the world's richest cities, and raid a Spanish galleon filled with riches.

Ocean's Eleven meets Pirates Of the Caribbean = $$$$$$$$

"Michael Crichton was one of our greatest storytellers, who expanded all of our imaginations with his books, films and television," said Steven Spielberg, who plans to produce and possibly direct the project.

Crichton completed the novel right before his passing last November - and former collaborator David Koepp will adapt it for the big screen.

Spielberg, Crichton and Koepp have teamed up on several acclaimed productions, including Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

Will U see the movie?

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 19 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

Steven Spielberg is filthy filthy rich.

Know why? In addition to raking it in at the box office, every year Steve pockets 2% of the gross box office receipts from Universal’s theme park in Orlando. That comes out to a cool $30 million every 365 days just for "consulting" on park rides and attractions.

Dayum!

The deal has been in place for the past 2 decades, and continues "in perpetuity," so even if Stevie decided to quit making movies, he can still live rather comfortably.

The former head of Universal, Sid Sheinberg, says, "When we made the deal I was delighted to make it. I thought at the time it was a sensible deal. I think it is now. I don’t regret it at all," adding, "The deal has been criticized by some who have entered the world later. If you set out to do a studio tour and you’re competing with a giant mouse, you better have a lot of weaponry, particularly when you move into Orlando, Florida."

Makes sense! It was a smart business move and a mutual investment for both Spielberg and Universal!

[Image via WENN.]

Permalink / 29 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »

Last week, things looked kinda crappy for Steven Speilberg when Universal walked out on a distribution deal with his Dreamworks studio.

But, things have worked out for the mogul!

On Monday, Disney said in a statement that it has agreed to distribute and market about six Dreamworks live-action films per year.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Disney would receive a distribution fee of at least 8 percent of the DreamWorks films box-office grosses.

It's also assumed that Disney's going to provide a loan or line of credit of up to $150 million to DreamWorks as part of the deal.

Wow, where'd the Mouse find money? They just did a round of lay offs!

But, because of this new deal, there's good news for film industry job seekers!

A Disney suit said they're going to do some hiring to 'service' the Dreamworks deal.

"We will sit down and be putting together where we need to add personnel," said the exec.

Polish those resumes up!

[Images via WENN.]

Permalink / 13 comments (RSS)  / Forward this post »