In 2009, Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks company paid the estate for film rights to King’s words, along with his life rights, which allow a person or company to make content based on an individual’s story. DreamWorks has yet to produce or direct Spielberg’s planned King biopic, but the rights have caused complications for numerous filmmakers. (Neither Spielberg’s literary agent nor King’s estate returned Broadly’s request for comment.)



There is a certain irony in Dreamworks having film rights for the 'I have a dream" speech and not working those rights. So more like Dream-not-works, amirite?