23 Jun – Two years after he was accused of expressing dislike for streaming services, Steven Spielberg was revealed to have entered into a deal with Netflix. The filmmaker's production company, Amblin Partners is set to make multiple new feature films per year for the streaming service, a collaboration that came just a few months after Amblin extended a similar deal with Universal Pictures. It is noted that neither Netflix nor Universal will have first shot at Amblin's movies though, as the production company will reportedly produce a variety of projects for both parties.
In a statement released by Spielberg on 21 June, the filmmaker expressed, "At Amblin, storytelling will forever be at the centre of everything we do, and from the minute Ted [Sarandos] 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." "This new avenue for our films, alongside the stories we continue to tell with our long-time family at Universal and our other partners, will be incredibly fulfilling for me personally since we get to embark on it together with Ted, and I can't wait to get started with him, Scott, and the entire Netflix team." It is noted that Netflix has already collaborated with Amblin in a smaller scale, having released Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" that was produced by the said studio. Netflix has also been inking similar deals with other studios, including Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions.
It is noted that back in 2019, Spielberg was accused of supposedly trying to bar day-and-date streaming releases from being eligible for Oscars, expressing skepticism against such services. However, he later clarified his position, saying that people should find their entertainment in any form or fashion that suits them. "Big screen, small screen - what really matters to me is a great story and everyone should have access to great stories," he said.