Peter Jackson gets in bed with Dreamworks

Peter Jackson's adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel "The Lovely Bones" has found a home at DreamWorks. DreamWorks acquired the package late Friday, beating out Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures. Unsurprisingly it was not shopped at New Line. Going with DreamWorks does feel a little like a match made in movie heaven. It seems like the type of studio that really understands movie making and movie magic.


"Bones," which went out to the town on Monday, generated a lot of heat because of Jackson's name but came under intense scrutiny for the way it was being sent to market. Jackson and his team shopped the script with a budget in the $80 million range, complete with a start of production date and, uniquely, a focus on marketing. Integral to the deal were conversations about release dates and what other films the winning company will have in the same quarter, because Jackson wanted to know how time and attention will be divided between his movie and others. Smart move. Obviously New Line did a number on him, and he is really trying to protect himself and his team.

The picture is scheduled to begin filming in October in Pennsylvania and New Zealand, and will be distributed worldwide by Paramount.
The book, published in 2002, tells the story of Susie Salmon, a young girl who is murdered but continues to observe her family on Earth after her death. She witnesses the impact of her loss on her loved ones, while her killer skillfully covers his tracks and prepares to murder again. One must assume that to have four major studios fighting it out to make the movie, it must have been one hell of a script, although it being a beloved best seller some would assume the film would sell its self. Not true I say. I figure people would rather read that type of material then see it on the screen.
Considering Jackson's skill with violence, and his horror back ground, I can see the killing of the young girl being very shocking and graphic. It needs to be in order for the audience to really hate the killer (in the book what he does is horrific) and be pulled in emotionally to Susie's post death expereinces. Plus anyone who has seen "Heavenly Creatures" will know that he has the skill to pull this of beautifully, even iron out the flaws in the final chapters.

DreamWorks' acquisition had been predicted by some quarters since Jackson developed a strong relationship with Stacey Snider, DreamWorks' CEO and co-chairman, when he made "Kong" for Universal under Snider's stewardship as chairman. The move also puts Jackson in business with Steven Spielberg. In fact, one reason DreamWorks edged out its competitors was the connection felt for the material by Spielberg, who at one point was eyeing the project.

"Alice Sebold's story affects readers in deeply personal ways and the most important consideration for me was finding a studio partner who felt an equally strong connection with the book. Not just in sharing our emotional reaction to the story, but our desire to see it told in an original, adventurous way on screen," Jackson said in a statement.

Now the hardest part. Casting the lead.