Palisadian Steven Spielberg, Netflix Team Up for Multi-Year Deal

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Amblin Partners—Palisadian Steven Spielberg’s film and television production company—and Netflix recently announced their partnership, one that will include multiple new feature films each year.

Amblin Partners, led by Spielberg, develops and produces films using the Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures banners and includes Amblin Television, according to the company.

“At Amblin, storytelling will forever be at the center of everything we do, and from the minute Ted [Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO] and I started discussing a partnership, it was abundantly clear that we had an amazing opportunity to tell new stories together and reach audiences in new ways,” Spielberg said in a statement. “This new avenue for our films, alongside the stories we continue to tell with our longtime family at Universal and our other partners, will be incredibly fulfilling for me personally since we get to embark on it together … and I can’t wait to get started with him … and the entire Netflix team.”

Netflix and Amblin Partners did not state how long the deal would last, nor if Spielberg would direct the films that land on Netflix. Spielberg does not direct all of the films Amblin produces, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Steven is a creative visionary and leader and, like so many others around the world, my growing up was shaped by his memorable characters and stories that have been enduring, inspiring and awakening,” Sarandos said. “We cannot wait to get to work with the Amblin team, and we are honored and thrilled to be part of this chapter of Steven’s cinematic history.”

The two companies have worked together before, previously on Academy Award-nominated “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and currently collaborating on fellow Palisadian Bradley Cooper’s film “Maestro,” which is in pre-production.

Only time will tell if Spielberg’s upcoming, semi-autobiographical film will make it onto the streaming service. The untitled film will reportedly follow the main character as a child and teenager, growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, where Spielberg lived for a period of time.

Actors Sam Rechner, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Julia Butters and Paul Dano are set to appear in the film.

Spielberg co-wrote the script with Tony Kushner, who previously worked with him on films, including “Munich” and “Lincoln.” Principal photography on the picture began this month near Los Angeles, with a release slated for 2022, according to Variety.

In the meantime, Palisadians can look forward to Spielberg’s movie version of “West Side Story” later this year—originally slated to release in theaters December 2020, the film had to push its release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “West Side Story” is scheduled to be released on December 10.