LOS ANGELES: Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks studio has indefinitely postponed “Robopocalypse,” the director’s next film, distributor Walt Disney said in a statement on Wednesday.
Disney did not give a reason for the delay, but a source with knowledge of the film said the director was dissatisfied with the script and production budget estimates.
The science-fiction movie was set to begin production this spring and be released in April 2014. No new date was announced.
“Robopocalypse” is based on Daniel H. Wilson’s futuristic novel about a war between humans and robots intent on destroying them.
“It’s about the consequences of creating technologies that make our lives easier, and what happens when that technology becomes smarter than we are,” Spielberg told his “War Horse” star Tom Hiddleston in an interview in early 2012 for Time Out Film.
The script, which is being written by “The Cabin in the Woods” writer and director Drew Goddard, wasn’t “landing where Steven wanted it,” according to the source.
Disney studio spokesman Paul Roeder had no comment.
The film was scheduled to star Anne Hathaway and Chris Hemsworth, according to the movie reference site imdb.com.
DreamWorks, a private company half owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance Group, would finance the film with News Corp’s Fox studio, which had co-financed Spielberg’s 2002 futuristic film “Minority Report.”
Disney is paid a percentage of a film’s revenues to distribute DreamWorks’ films domestically. It counts on DreamWorks’ movies to reduce its own studio costs while providing it with high profile films.
Estimates for “Robopocalypse” were coming in around $160 million, higher than Spielberg wanted, said the source.
Spielberg, whose most recent film, “Lincoln,” has domestic ticket sales of more than $200 million, is contemplating other unannounced projects while he waits for the script.
Spielberg postpones expensive sci-fi film "Robopocalypse"
Spielberg postpones expensive sci-fi film "Robopocalypse"
Riyadh to install 25 new public artworks after conclusion of Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium
- Move will extend the impact of the annual art event beyond its conclusion, bringing large-scale contemporary artworks into the city’s streets and parks
- Artworks produced during the symposium will now become part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection
RIYADH: Some 25 sculptures created during the seventh edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium and exhibition will soon be installed across public spaces in Riyadh.
The move will extend the impact of the annual art event beyond its conclusion, organizers said, bringing large-scale contemporary artworks into the city’s streets and parks.
Organized by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City through the Riyadh Art Program, the 2026 edition has ended after nearly two months of live sculpting, exhibitions and public programming.
The artworks produced during the symposium will now become part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection and will appear across the capital as part of a broader effort to integrate art into everyday urban life.
This year’s symposium began in January and took place along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, widely known as Tahlia Street.
The site was transformed into an open-air studio in which visitors could observe artists carving, welding and assembling sculptures.
The live sculpting phase, which was held between Jan. 10 and Feb. 5, brought together leading Saudi and international artists to produce 25 large-scale works.
The sculptures were created using locally sourced granite and reclaimed metal, highlighting both the region’s natural materials and the creative reuse of industrial elements.
Visitors were able to follow the process of each artwork’s development, from raw materials to finished sculptures, while also interacting with the artists and learning about their techniques and concepts.
The event also featured a wide-ranging community engagement program designed to deepen public understanding of contemporary art.
The program included 10 panel discussions, 105 training workshops and 15 masterclasses exploring sculptural techniques, materials and the role of public art in cities.
Educational outreach formed another key component of the symposium. Organizers hosted 25 educational visits for more than 600 students, while daily guided tours enabled visitors to explore the artworks and gain insight into the creative processes behind them.
After the live sculpting phase, the completed sculptures remained on-site until March 8, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the works in their original setting before their distribution across Riyadh.
The symposium was curated by Lulwah Al-Homoud, Sarah Staton, and Rut Blees Luxemburg, who guided the artistic direction around the theme “Traces of What Will Be,” exploring how sculpture can reflect future possibilities while responding to the city’s evolving identity.
