"Evan Almighty" director splits with studio

By Carly Mayberry

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Filmmaker Tom Shadyac, who directed the costly summer bomb "Evan Almighty," is parting ways with the film's distributor.

Universal Pictures is not renewing its production pact with the filmmaker's Shady Acres Prods. when it expires in about four months. Shadyac has had a deal with Universal since 1999, when he was hot off such films as "Patch Adams," "Liar Liar" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective."

A Universal spokeswoman said the split was "mutually agreed upon," but "Evan Almighty" proved to be one of last year's most expensive duds. A sequel to his hugely successful 2003 comedy "Bruce Almighty," the tamer "Evan," with Steve Carell subbing for Jim Carrey, cost a reported $175 million. It grossed just $104.4 million domestically and $72.9 million internationally.

As a producer, though, Shadyac bolstered the studio's summer slate with the Adam Sandler comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," which has grossed $186 million worldwide to date. In all, his films have grossed nearly $2 billion worldwide for Universal.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter