Fox Wins ‘Watchmen’ Suit

I know it’s Christmas and all, and you’re all probably having the hap-hap-happiest time since Bing Crosby tapdanced with Danny F’ing Kaye, but this news just couldn’t go unannounced, even for 24 hours. Â  Be prepared to start sucking down the eggnog.

Apparently, a Los Angeles federal judge has ruled that 20th Century Fox, not Warner Bros., owns the distribution rights to ‘Watchmen’.

“Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the ‘Watchmen’ motion picture,† the ruling said.

Judge Gary Allen  Feess issued the surprise ruling Wednesday — a week after setting a Jan. 20 trial date for Fox’s suit — and indicated he would issue a more detailed ruling soon. Warner spokesman Scott Rowe  declined to comment.   

Fox filed the suit in February, contending it retains distribution rights to the graphic novel.   The suit asserts that producer Lawrence Gordon’s  option to acquire Fox’s remaining interest in ‘Watchmen’ was never exercised, thereby leaving Fox with its rights under a 1994 turnaround agreement. Warner Bros. has denied Fox’s assertions and contended Fox doesn’t hold the copyright.

Fox originally acquired the rights to ‘Watchmen’ in the late 1980s and spent more than $1 million developing the project, which later went to Universal  and then Paramount before landing at Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

‘Watchmen’ was scheduled to come out on March 6th, but who knows what this ruling will do to that release date.

What do you think? Â  Will Warner and Fox come to an agreement and keep the release date intact? Â  Will Fox try to take over the film altogether leaving Warner blowing in the wind? Â  Do you think there is even the slightest chance we will never see the ‘Watchmen’ movie Zack Snyder has made? Â  Did Fox just ruin your Christmas? Â  Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Variety