Paramount Could Lose Godfather Rights

[TheAnimeLegend]

Back in May, Paramount Pictures and the estate of author Mario Puzo struck a deal to allow the release of a new Godfather book. However, in recent weeks, that agreement has turned sour.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Puzo estate has filed a counterclaim targeting the rights granted to Paramount back in 1969. Should the estate's settlement go through, the studio would no longer be able to make any more Godfather movies.

The conflict began earlier this year as the Puzo estate had licensed a new book called The Family Corleone, which depicted Vito Corleone's rise to power in Depression-era New York. Paramount sued last February, claiming that the new book would "tarnish" the Godfather legacy.

While the two parties eventually struck the aforementioned deal allowing the book to publish, Puzo's estate has since sought to reclaim the property, which would leave the door open for another studio to make a new Godfather film.

Whatever comes, Paramount's ownership of the first three movies will be unimpaired.