Reliance DreamWorks announces first three films

Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) Reliance BIG Entertainment and Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios have rolled out details of the first three movies they will be working on as part of their $825 million partnership.

The projects, 'I Am Number 4', 'Pirate Latitudes' and 'Harvey', are a mix of adventure as well as book and play adaptations, a Reliance BIG Entertainment statement issued here Saturday said.

'With the backing of Reliance, we are able to continue developing our slate and producing films for the worldwide movie-going audiences,' said Stacey Snider, co-chairperson and CEO of DreamWorks Studios.

While 'I Am Number 4', based on an eponymous novel co-written by James Frey and Jobie Hughes, might be helmed by 'Transformers' director Michael Bay, Speilberg himself is planning to produce and direct 'Pirate Latitudes'.

'Pirate Latitudes' is being developed out of a posthumously published novel by Michael Crichton, whose 'Jurassic Park' was made into a movie by Spielberg.

Said Spielberg: 'Michael Crichton was one of our greatest storytellers who expanded all of our imaginations with his books, films, and television. With the 'E.R.' series and 'Jurassic Park' series, I enjoyed one of the best collaborations of my career. Now with 'Pirate Latitudes', I and all of us at DreamWorks have the chance to be excited about bringing this new Michael Crichton work to the screen.'