My question is, if Fox does have the rights and if Fox has had the rights for the last 20 years...when in the world were they planning on making this movie then??? If it wasn't for Warner, we'd probably NEVER see a Watchmen movie.
To date, Fox had spent $1 million in development on The Watchmen. On what and when is anyone's guess.
Los Angeles (E! Online) - Who will watch The Watchmen? Nobody, if 20th Century Fox gets its way.
After a major court victory, the studio has announced a bid to block the release of Warner Bros.' anticipated adaptation of the seminal graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
Fox originally tried to develop the project more than a decade ago, but didn't manage to get the film off the drawing board. The studio claims Warners never properly acquired the rights to The Watchmen, and, in a major twist, instead of seeking a share of the would-be blockbuster's box-office gross, Fox is seeking to kill the flick entirely before it unspools in theaters March 6.
Cue the agonized cries of fanboys everywhere.
A federal judge in Los Angeles agreed with Fox lawyers that there's enough evidence to keep the lawsuit going forward—and keep the film's release in limbo.
Directed by 300 helmer Zack Snyder, The Watchmen stars Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup and Jackie Earle Haley as a band of former superheroes who find themselves reclassified as criminal vigilantes in an alternate universe circa 1985. As an unknow assassin begins to hunt them down, the heroes try to unravel a conspiracy and thwart a nuclear war.
The film's trailer wowed Comic-Con attendees last month, stirring big buzz for a film that many thought would never get made.
Per its complaint, Fox traces its distribution rights through a series of complex legal agreements that began in 1991 when the studio teamed up with veteran producer Larry Gordon to develop the DC Comics graphic novel.
The project stalled and Gordon went packing, leaving Fox, not Gordon, in control of the property, per the suit.
But Gordon resurfaced in 2006 and inked a deal with Warners to try to relaunch Watchmen.
In siding with Fox, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Fees said Warners' legal camp failed to show that Gordon still had a stake in the project.
"Warner Bros.' production and anticipated release of The Watchmen motion picture violates 20th Century Fox's long-standing motion picture rights in The Watchmen property," Fox says in a statement.
"We will be asking the court to enforce Fox's copyright interests in The Watchmen and enjoin the release of the Warner Bros. film and any related Watchmen media that violate our copyright interests in that property."
It's not clear exactly why Fox is asking for an injunction to block The Watchmen from coming out, especially since the film's already in the can, although it could simply be a ploy to gain a large portion of ticket sales. There's also no indication why Fox waited so long to bring its case.
Warners, meanwhile, tried to spin the ruling as favorably as possible.
"It is our company's policy not to comment on pending litigation and thus will not comment on the specifics of this case," the studio's statement reads. "That said, the court's ruling simply means that the parties will engage in discovery and proceed with the litigation.
"We respectfully disagree with Fox's position and do not believe they have any rights in and to this project."
Fees has asked the studios to expedite the pretrial wrangling. After all, the film's release is apporaching and the Doomsday Clock is ticking
You're right, we must have been watching completely different trailers.
You must be looking at the Watchmen trailer through patented Toshiba HD-DVD fan glasses while thumbing through your copy of "how to make movies" by Uwe Boll.
Logan
omg that was the best most horrible thing i have heard in a movie related comeback in a looong time i want a shirt with that on it lol
Looks like it may get pushed back to either June or possibly next Summer.
Quote:
"The report also outlined conflicting requests for a trial date: as early as next June, if Fox has its way, or April, if Warner prevails." And if this all turns out to be true, we may not see Watchmen until the summer next year, if at all! With a delay looming over head, I think fans are getting tired rooting for one side in this case.
I've got no interest in seeing this movie, but it's pretty clear from the timing of the suit (waiting until the thing is in the can rather than filing the motion when they learned about production) that Fox is just angling for favorable terms on a distribution deal. They wanted the movie to be made, they just saw a sparkling opportunity to dodge the investment risk and actually sue someone for more money in the process. It might not even get delayed.
I finished reading the graphic novel about a week ago, and I'm even more excited about seeing the film. It'll be very interesting to see how they capture everything, as some points of the comic just feel like they'd only really work on the page. Kevin Smith said that it's very true to the graphic novel, right down to the brand of beans Rorschach is eating. Should be interesting. Hopefully this still hits its March target.
I finished reading the graphic novel about a week ago, and I'm even more excited about seeing the film. It'll be very interesting to see how they capture everything, as some points of the comic just feel like they'd only really work on the page. Kevin Smith said that it's very true to the graphic novel, right down to the brand of beans Rorschach is eating. Should be interesting. Hopefully this still hits its March target.
I'm reading it now (when I have time). I hope people who haven't read it are open to seeing the movie. The story is amazing.
I've read the comic back in the day and liked it, i enjoy all of Alan Moores creations (especially Constantine) But that trailer looked disappointing :/ but i guess with a story like the watchmen it'd be reallllly hard to live up to the comic but whatever i might just be nitpicking
I've read the comic back in the day and liked it, i enjoy all of Alan Moores creations (especially Constantine) But that trailer looked disappointing :/ but i guess with a story like the watchmen it'd be reallllly hard to live up to the comic but whatever i might just be nitpicking
looking forward to the Constantine sequel though
Constantine Sequel?
Tell me more.
I'm not sure how they could follow up after doing so well on the first one.
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WB and Fox fight over "Watchmen"
but see? im not the only one ^^
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