Sold: one movie production studio, slightly used. How much would you pay to buy DreamWorks? Paramount has just found out - $1.6 billion. The studio has trumped NBC Universal, which had been negotiating to acquire DreamWorks.
The deal includes all of DreamWorks current 59 films – such as Gladiator, American Beauty and Catch Me If You Can, rights to all future films (including those in production, like Dreamgirls and TV shows, and a distribution deal for the animated movies produced by the company.
Steven Spielberg has suggested that he’s happy with the announcement, despite some controversy – considering his close ties to Universal. "I am thrilled by today's announcement of the deal with Viacom/ Paramount, who came recently to the table and were able to conclude and sign agreements quickly. Due to my very long history and my loyalty to Universal, I was saddened that after long negotiations and many compromises, we were unable to come to terms with Universal's parent company, GE. Nevertheless, I am truly looking forward to working with Tom Freston, Brad Grey and Gail Berman, as this is an exciting opportunity for each of us to embark on a new adventure together."
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