Comcast takes stake in Steven Spielberg's movie-production company

There was a recent sighting at Chops, the high-end street-level restaurant at the Comcast Center, of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts doing lunch with Hollywood's Steven Spielberg.

We know what that was about now.

The cable-and-entertainment giant has taken a financial stake in Amblin Partners, Spielberg's movie-and-TV production company. The deal deepens the ties between Comcast-owned Universal Studios and Spielberg, one of the most successful directors of the modern era, whose movies include Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, and Lincoln.

Terms were not disclosed.

The deal deepens the relationship between Amblin Partners and Comcast-owned Universal Studios, which also distributes Amblin films including, in late 2016, The Girl on the Train.

Jeff Shell, a former Comcast executive in Philadelphia who is now chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment, will join the Amblin Partners board. Other investors in Amblin include Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment, Entertainment One and Alibaba Pictures.

Amblin is expected to produce four to seven films a year.