DreamWorks 2.0 Announces First Deal — The Walter and Laurie Show

DreamWorks 2.0 announced its first deal in its new incarnation with India’s Reliance Big Entertainment money: the studio will work in a two-year deal with former production heads (and producers) Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, Variety says.

Production pact is the company’s first since principals Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg left Paramount Pictures in October and partnered with Reliance on an independent venture.

DreamWorks exited Par with a number of Parkes/MacDonald development projects in tow as part of its separation agreement with the Melrose studio. Among the Parkes/MacDonald films staying in the DreamWorks fold are “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “The Damned,” “Motorcade,” “St. Agnes’ Stand” and “Dinner With Schmucks.”

“Dinner With Schmucks” had been developed as a Sacha Baron Cohen starring vehicle, but curiously he is no longer involved in the project.

Maybe he has something against Spielberg.