[AKA2D '91]

3-genre threat Murphy signs with DreamWorks
Thu Oct 10, 2:20 AM ET

By Zorianna Kit and Chris Gardner



LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Following a successful collaboration on the blockbuster feature "Shrek," for which a sequel is due out in the summer, the film's co-star Eddie Murphy (news) has inked a two-year, first-look production deal with DreamWorks Pictures.

The deal cements a long-standing relationship between the star and studio topper Jeffrey Katzenberg that goes back 20 years to when Katzenberg was an executive at Paramount and Murphy was a rising comedian making his big-screen debut in the studio's 1982 feature film "48 HRS." Their relationship continued on such Paramount features as "Trading Places" and "Beverly Hills Cop" before Katzenberg left to join the Walt Disney Co. in 1984.

Murphy, who hasn't formally had a production deal with any studio, has enjoyed a close relationship with Imagine Entertainment, for whom he has made such films as "The Nutty Professor" and its sequel. And he has had successful ties with DreamWorks on the studio's hit CGI family film "Shrek" and its sequel.

"Eddie works in not one but three genres: family, action-comedy and irreverent comedy," DreamWorks production head Michael De Luca said. "He has a wealth of ideas that have yet to be exploited, and between him and our writers and director relationships, we can come up with great projects."

Murphy, repped by WMA, is in production on Revolution Studios' "Daddy Day Care." He next stars in Columbia Pictures' "I Spy."

In addition to Murphy, DreamWorks has signed "In the Bedroom" writer-director Todd Field to a two-year deal. Details of the deal -- which does include overhead -- are being kept under wraps.

After bowing at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival (news - web sites), "Bedroom" went on to be a critical favorite, nominated for a multitude of awards this year, including five Oscar noms. More recently, Field received the American Film Institute (news - web sites)'s 12th annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal at the Tom Hanks (news) life achievement award fete.

Field, who has yet to direct a follow-up to "Bedroom," declined comment on the deal. The writer-director, repped by Endeavor, began his career as an actor playing a Swedish goalie in the Canadian/French co-production "He Shoots, He Scores." His more recent credits include "Eyes Wide Shut," "Walking and Talking" and "Twister."


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SUING SINGER NOT ‘GHETTO ENOUGH'


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October 9, 2002 -- Naturi Naughton, a former member of the platinum-selling teen group 3LW, claims she was forced out of the R&B trio because she was not "ghetto enough."
Naughton, a native of East Orange, N.J., charged that the "purported" manager of the group, Michelle Williams, said Naughton, 18, "did not present the appropriate ‘project girl image,' " and berated her as "Ms. Two Parent Household."

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Newark against group members Kiely Williams, 16, of Annandale, N.J., and Adrienne Bailon, 18, of New York.

Also sued was Michelle Williams, who is Kiely's sister and another sister, Tse Williams, owner of Nine Lives Entertainment of Newark; Big Cat Management of New York, and Sony Music.

Messages seeking comment from a publicist and Big Cat Management were not immediately returned.


AP