Reports have said that Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios is separating from Disney, with 'The BFG' as its last film release with the studio. 'The BFG' is set to be released July 1, 2016, marking 7 years in the studios partnership. Aside from this divorce, Spielberg also faces the decision of leaving the DreamWorks name behind.
According to the Australian Financial Review, DreamWorks Studios will see off its partnership deal with Walt Disney Studios in August 2016, a month after the release of 'The BFG' or 'The Big Friendly Giant'. The report stated that Disney decided not to extend the DreamWorks partnership beyond next summer, due to the movie strategy changes it had employed since 2009.
That being said, Spielberg is now negotiating with other studios to strike a similar distribution deal as they did with Disney. According to The Wall Street Journal, the amicable departure of DreamWorks from Disney may most likely mean reunion with Universal. If signing a new agreement with Comcast Corp.'s Universal pushes through, Spielberg will go back to Universal where 'The BFG' studio was based until 2005.
The BFG, an adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic children's book, might not only see the departure of DreamWorks from Disney, but as well as its departure from its name. According to The Hollywood Reporter, another DreamWorks deal is set to expire on Jan. 1. DreamWorks Studios licenses of the name and logo from DreamWorks Animation.
B. Riley analyst Eric Wold said that while Spielberg wants to keep the name, there has been confusion in the marketplace and DWA's recent box-office flops is not helping the brand. In the long-term, Spielberg's DreamWorks is slowly moving to the family niche and may potentially make animated films, which currently only allowed to be done with DWA.
This issue was present with 'The BFG'. Apparently, a live-action family film made by DreamWorks can only be released by Touchstone. In a clever move by Disney, Spielberg-directed 'The BFG' will bear the logo of Amblin Entertainment, which preceded DreamWorks and could be an alternate name for the company. Currently 'The BFG' or 'The Big Friendly Giant' will be joint released by DreamWorks Studios (or Amblin Entertainment for formality's sake) and Disney as their last venture together.
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