News

Steven Spielberg, who recently made headlines for his support of gay marriage, may adapt and direct Chocky. The director's DreamWorks, which just announced the terms of its surprisingly amicable split from parent company Paramount, acquired the rights to the sci-fi novel from the literary estate of author John Wydham. It's yet to be determined if Paramount will produce this particular project. Word around the film biz is that DreamWorks may soon partner with Universal for distribution on some of its future films.

Rumor has is it that Spielberg plans to direct the project as well, since it explores the darker side of childhood, a theme that the famed director has visited repeatedly in his films. The story centers on a boy and his enigmatic imaginary friend with whom he often argues. The boy's father becomes suspicious of his son's activities and eventually realizes that an alien is inhabiting his son's mind and causing his behavior.

Regarding DW's split from Paramount, the entities have announced that they will be dividing up approximately 200 projects that are currently in the DreamWorks pipeline. The companies have also agreed to remain partners for about 30 or 40 of those projects, with Spielberg producing four other Paramount films, among them next summer's sequel to Transformers. It has not been determined which films will be co-financed and co-distributed by Paramount.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
10.06.08