 Michael Crichton (qv)s agents circulated the book to six studios  and directors. Warner Brothers wanted it for Tim Burton (I) (qv)  to direct while Columbia was planning it for Richard Donner (qv).  Fox was also interested and was intending the project for  Joe Dante (I) (qv), while Universal wanted  Steven Spielberg (I) (qv) to direct. Crichton was reluctant to  submit to a bidding war, since his last experience (with his book  "Congo") never materialized into a movie. He instructed his agents  to put a set price on the film rights and he could decide who was  more likely to actually get the film made. After interviewing all  the prospective directors, he agreed to sell the rights to Universal  and Spielberg, who was already his first choice.