Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 26, 2015. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
This is not a good start to the year for DreamWorks Animation Studios. The "Shrek" studio was able to celebrate successes with the two "How to Train Your Dragon" films, as well as with sequels such as "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda". But despite earning back and exceeding their production budgets, the most recent productions fell short of expectations, including "Turbo", "Rise of the Guardians", and "Mr Peabody and Sherman" – if the figures from Box Office Mojo are to be believed.
As a result, according to Variety, among others, there is talk of cutting 500 jobs as part of the restructuring, reducing the production budget to 120 million US dollars, and an associated reduction in film production – only two instead of three feature films per year. For 2015, this means: Alongside the sequel "Kung Fu Panda 3", the new production "Trolls" is still in the pipeline.
In recent months, there has also been speculation about a sale of the studio – US toy manufacturer Hasbro was hotly tipped. Perhaps the negotiations will now gain new momentum. As if that were not enough, according to the Hollywood Reporter, financial analyst Tony Wible of Janney Montgomery Scott rated the company’s stock poorly last Friday, thereby also expressing doubts about its liquidity.
Image: Paramount
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