Disney to Distribute Dreamworks Pictures?

[KeithS]

Financial uncertainty can often result in strange bed-fellows...it seems quite likely that Disney will end up being the distributor of Dreamworks pictures in the near future as Dreamworks look to cancel their Universal contract.

We'll watch this one with interest!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/ ... disney/?hp


Update - well the Dreamworks/Universal contract has ended! Now it is just a case of waiting to see who Dreamworks have signed with!
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsN ... 8620090206

[sandie]

So will Universal Parks still have dreamworks characters/attaractions?

Sandie

[KeithS]

So will Universal Parks still have dreamworks characters/attractions?

Yes - they will remain at Universal as the animated characters are owned by Dreamworks Animation. Dreamworks and Dreamworks Animation are two separate entities - the Disney deal is only for the distribution of Dreamworks films (i.e. live action division run by Steven Spielberg) - not the animated movie company run by Jeff Katzenburg (who, as many will know, had a massive falling out with Michael Eisner and Disney when Katzenberg was head of Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1994. Katzenberg is a bit of a Disney hero in that he started that modern golden era of Disney Animation with The Little Mermaid etc.)

Dreamworks Animation is currently distributed by Paramount Films.

I think Disney will find the distribution of the live action films quite attractive at it really fills the gap left by the wind-down of Touchstone Pictures - which basically meant it wasn't producing pictures with more adult themes (that was a big market to drop out from). Distributing the Dreamworks live action will alleviate that gap.

Anyway, interesting times ahead!

[KeithS]

Well, it is official. Dreamworks films will be distributed by Disney under a reinvigorated Touchstone brand:

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/id ... PV20090209

[ajp]

I think this is great news for Disney and Dreamworks. I'm a big fan of Spielberg movies and those obviously influenced by him and his company and think that what Disney can offer in regard to distribution and marketting will only improve their lot.

When you look at this history of Disney Pictures though it's a great acheivement to have such a significant production company want Disney to distribute given that for decades they themselves had to enlist studios to distribute their own work. Things are looking up.