Posted by Michelle McCue in Comic Books, Lawsuits, Movies, Release Date | 9 comments
Fox Attempting To Halt ‘Watchmen’
Here’s an update to the story that Jeremy first brought you on Christmas…According to the Associated Press:
Ă‚ An attorney for 20th Century Fox says the studio will press its case to delay the release of “Watchmen,” but a rival studio says it plans to release the film as scheduled.
U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess last week agreed with Fox that Warner Bros. had infringed its copyright by developing and shooting the superhero flick, casting some doubt on its March 6 release date. Feess said Monday he plans to hold a trial Jan. 20 to decide remaining issues.
Fox claims it never fully relinquished story rights for the graphic novel from its deal made in the late 1980s, and sued Warner Bros. in February. Warner Bros. contended Fox isn’t entitled to distribution.Warner Bros. said in a statement released Monday afternoon that it won’t move the movie’s release date and still thinks it will win the case, either at trial or through an appeal.
Warner Bros just issued this statement…
“We respectfully but vigorously disagree with the Court’s ruling and are exploring all of our appellate options. We continue to believe that Fox’s claims have no merit and that we will ultimately prevail, whether at trial or in the Court of Appeals. We have no plans to move the release date of the film.†ť
For my two cents, WB should’ve never rolled on this movie (nevermind the major screw-up by Warner Bros. legal eagles)…and why on earth did they ever show footage of it at Comic-Con? WB knew damn well they were being sued over the rights by Fox before the first frame of film was shot. And this lawsuit was started over a year ago….So why is everyone pissin’ and moanin’?…Fox didn’t just try to stop the release a mere two weeks ago. Still – I can’t wait to see what Zack Snyder has in store for us and hope the film is released in March.
Source: The Associated Press
I know I already posted this link once before but it’s true.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/fox-can-eat-several-dicks/
God, I would give anything to keep 20th Century Fox’s editors away from this movie. Especially Nicolas De Toth. That guy can eat a whole bag of dicks!
i’ve been holding my tongue about this, but i feel like it’s time to speak up and present a dissenting opinion
i loathe Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. now, i’ve never read the comic. on the other hand, i’ve seen From Hell, LXG, Constantine, and V For Vendetta (keep in mind that i read the comics after seeing the films). none of those movies measured up to the comic books in the way Iron Man or The Dark Knight presented their comic book counterparts. From Hell was as close as it could get, but even that was a completely different kind of story. in my opinion, i share Alan Moore’s ambivalence regarding the film. it’s not even that i didn’t like From Hell or Constantine or V For Vendetta. i enjoyed them as films, but as representations of the comic books, they failed.
so, frankly, i’m rooting for Fox. and you want to know one the biggest insults regarding Watchmen. Snyder’s recruitment of the horrible, terrible band My Chemical Romance for a Bob Dylan cover for the movie. that, right there, encapsulate everything i loathe about Zack Snyder’s Watchmen.
The thing about this as opposed to the Graphic Novel is the fact that it is FRAME FOR FRAME exactly like the graphic novel. You couldn’t have taken it from the book to the screen in any other way..and that is what Zack Snyder has done. If fox messes with this movie there will be HUGE backlash..you do not mess with geeks.
For a minute I forgot how faithful Michelle is to Fox, which is why she isnt outraged!
I’m outraged by what Warner Brothers did….and facts are facts. Fox has the rights – its that simple. And WB would’ve been in the same kind of trouble if they had made The Dark Knight without the rights from DC. As I said before, I hope the movie is released in March….and intact.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
“Fox, which finally snapped a long boxoffice losing streak with “Marley & Me,” gains most with a settlement, not a blocked release; the studio is already taking a beating in the geek blogosphere for messing with a fan-favorite property. Warners, meanwhile, could be on the hook for millions for developing and then filming a movie in which the film’s producer, Larry Gordon, didn’t pay Fox turnaround fees after allegedly reacquiring rights to the property.” So keep flyin those flags of discontent, Scott.
The flags will fly, oh yes, the flags will fly.
Mark my words; Watchmen will disappoint, and the fans will wish Fox had gotten their way.