Watchmen has been trying to make its way to the big screen for a LONG time. Now we are in the utopian age of superhero films so it is finally happening. But Fox doesn’t want it to.
Fox filed to challenge the WB’s production of the DC property (also owned by the WB) since they owned the rights to once upon a time. Now that no one was willing to make it WB did it themselves and Fox wants a piece of that pie.
Nikke Finke reports that a federal judge has denied to dismiss 20th Century Fox’s legal claim on Watchmen. You may remember that they filed a lawsuit back in February claiming that their rights to the DC property still held. They seek an injunction to prevent Warner Bros’ adaptation of Watchmen from being released at all.
And at this point, that federal judge agrees with them.
I find it amazing how studios like this can just come out of the woodwork AFTER the film is done and in the can and suddenly call foul?
Its like eating 90% of the burger before deciding it didn’t taste good. The restaurant is going to call you on that one, so I am not surprised that WB tried to turf this claim too. Unfortunately when you check where the i’s are dotted they might be behind a wall on this one.
Money makes wheels turn, so if it does get ugly WB will make an offer to share profits, or pay out a fine for “violating” the deal. I don’t know the finer points of it all, but I find it very hard to believe that the WB would have gone through ALL this effort without getting at least one person to look into the former deals to make sure they were in the clear.
It all smells stink of it to me.
Boycotts never accomplish anything.
I agree why spend a reported 120 million on a movie if fox owns the rights to make the first movie……I also feel fox knew the movie was being made why wait till it is finished to cry about it. That means they are waiting to get paid……I feel if ultimately the movie scraped due to fox, we should boycott and product of there’s……Because this movie looks freakn unbelievable….
You think this is staged publicity??
Just another phase of the Watchmen viral marketing campaign.
Fox had their chance. I don’t mean when Sam Hamm and Terry Gilliam was involved in the early 90s when Fox had it.
I mean when the sucker was being made! All they had to do was either say “WB stop right there!” or better yet THROW IN A FEW MILLION and put up some of the risk money. Was there a problem sharing a co-production? Or work out distribution rights? Studios have been known to do this.
No. Fox should let it go OR… check this out…
let WB release Watchmen while Fox picks another dormant DC/Vertigo property, Film rights to say…oh, say Kamandi, or Promethea. Fast track it, get it made.
I know, only in a perfect world.
But Fox was silent when Watchmen was being filmed. It’s not like they didn’t know. Y’know?
Godfather, its those precedings we worry about.
If the dust doesn’t settle on this before its intended release date then the movie gets delayed. If they can’t agree, then WB puts it on a shelf and pouts.
Its just not good news for the fans unless they come to an agreement and fast.
Guys, guys, guys…
It’s not done yet. Why does everyone get so worked up over something that hasn’t happened yet. The injunction is valid if Fox can prove that they are the rightful company owners of the movie rights to Watchmen. That’s what the proceedings will show, then if they have a shot at winning, it’ll either go to court or WB will settle. If Fox has no real claim, the judge will toss it.
RELAX and let the proceedings take place…
Fox is just a bunch of greedy bastards; the freakin people used to make sveral good movies. Then 2006 dawn. God, now they only made three good movies a year. They just want money.
If they shut the film down, I will tell Fox to go f*ck themselves.
:( Damn idiotic and greedy Fox!! :( This is an outrage!!
Message to FOX – don’t ya know that the “green-eyed devil” (envy)is bad karma – leave Watchmen alone and maybe the film gods will smile on “The Rocker” or “Night at the Museum 2” (which need all the help they can get).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlkou5MtAdU
Screw you, Fox! WB makes so many better films than you do, Bratz lovers!
I dont see how this got screwed up by Warner in the first place, how do you go through with making and finishing a movie you dont have rights to?
The blood stain is on the wrong side of the smiley face.
This is not news that I want to hear. First Harry potter id being pushed back another year, a movie starring Gerard Butler that i wanted to see is also being pushed back and now The Watchmen might get tied up in court?
Does Fox actually have a legal claim? They must have some valid claim if the judges aren’t going to throw this out of court. This is bad, bad news.
It would really be interesting if this movie wasn’t able to get released. Considering Alan Moore isn’t in support of the film either. The clamoring for this movie would lead to a lot of clever bootleg DVDs.