Spielberg returns to Universal

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg returned to his post at Universal Studios after signing a deal with the company to distribute his films, two years after parting ways with the filmmakers.

The director's DreamWorks movie studio reportedly split from Paramount - which acquired the company in 2006 - after friction over the costs of keeping Spielberg and his filmmaking partner Stacey Snider with the company.

The new seven-year agreement will see Universal distribute up to six DreamWorks movies a year in the US and overseas, except for India.

Spielberg said in a statement: "While it feels great to come home again, it feels like I never left... Universal has always been my home base so this agreement starts a new chapter in what has been a long and successful association."