By M&C Movie News May 5, 2007, 13:07 GMT
Dreamworks, Warner Bros. Universal and Sony in a high stakes poker game, the pot, Peter Jackson and his screenplay for Alice Sebold’s best selling 2002 novel “The Lovely Bones.”
12/03/2003 - Peter Jackson - The Lord Of The Rings - The Return Of The King - Movie Premiere - Mann Village Theatre - Westwood, CA © Glenn Harris / Photorazzi
Well, it was not quite a poker game but a weeklong auction with Paramount owned DreamWorks walking away the winner, committing at least $65 million to the production.
DreamWorks will produce in association with Film 4: Jackson and his partner Fran Walsh and Aimee Peyronnet will produce.
Pic about a 14-year-old who has been raped and killed, and now watches over her family and killer, is a departure from the CG laden movies Jackson is known for.
"When you read an emotionally magical story that cries out to be turned into a major motion picture, you hope its winding path can find its way to the door of your own company," DreamWorks' Steven Spielberg said.
Spielberg has a great interest in working with Jackson which makes the project a good fit for DreamWorks. Also, DreamWorks fought hard for the film rights to Sebold's book several years ago before the rights went to Jackson.
In addition, Jackson made his last movie, "King Kong," with DreamWorks CEO-co-chair Stacey Snider when Snider was still running Universal.
"We are thrilled that DreamWorks Studios has been able to acquire the film rights to this story that has captivated so many people," Snider said. "In the hands of Peter Jackson, we have a master of cinematic storytelling to bring it to the screen."
Jackson will start shooting in October in Pennsylvania and New Zealand.
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