Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners cuts 20% of staff

Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners has cut about 20 percent of its workforce as the company downsizes under a new multi-year deal with Universal. Those leaving the company of 90 to 100 employees include staff in marketing, international and post-production.

Under Amblin’s new deal with Universal, the studio will co-finance the company’s films. Previously, Amblin would find his own financing for the films and then give Universal the ability to distribute those films for a fee.

Spielberg directed the Oscar nominee last The Fabelmans, which Universal released. She hasn’t announced her next directing project yet.

The company has an adaptation of the novel in the works Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, to be directed by Chloe Zhao, and closed a 2024 novel rights deal Anonymous killers by Rob Hart. Amblin also has a deal with Netflix.

In announcing the new deal with the studio, Spielberg said in a statement: “Universal is my ancestral studio home, and this next chapter in our long-standing partnership will provide Amblin with the creative flexibility and autonomy that I know will allow us.” to succeed together in the future.I am eternally grateful to our entire team at Amblin for their work and dedication over the years, and I am also grateful to Donna (Langley) and everyone at Universal for their commitment and cooperation , while we look forward to our next adventure together.”

Langley, president and chief content officer, NBCUniversal Studio Group added, “We are thrilled to evolve our partnership with Steven and together cement our creative legacy that has led to so many iconic Universal films over the past half-century. Steven and the Amblin team have been outstanding partners and we can’t wait for this next chapter.”