Don’t you just love when this happens? Harvey and Bob’s The Weinstein Co against Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media seeks injunctive relief and claims there’s “a written contract signed by everybody” which gives the Weinsteins exclusive worldwide distribution rights on The Crow reboot. The original was distributed by the Weinsteins at Miramax back in 1994 and grossed $50.6M domestic. The Weinsteins and Kavanaugh went back and forth on “a number of issues” before the lawsuit was filed this afternoon.
Two of the producers on the remake are Jeff Most and Ed Pressman; the same two producers who have been with all the Crow films to date. Relativity is dismissing TWC as being bullies. Now, my first thought about this was- YES. This is the way to go about it, give the lawsuits and issues now *before* filmmakers start filming. The last thing we want is another Watchmen contreversy. I also said that was my first thought. What was my second?
I’m siding with Relativity. Here’s why. It wasn’t too long ago when talks of a Crow remake before the hiring of the 28 Weeks Later director was in development. TWC had nothing to do with that development. The studio, under the old Dimension banner, had released the last two Crow sequels (regardless of quality) direct to video. It’s also documented that they interefered with how ‘Crow: City Of Angels” to the point where the writer (David Goyer) and the director (Tim Pope) disowned the picture. While I think the character and concept is limited, let’s be honest, shall we?
The Wienstien Company mishandled the first franchise and wrote it off. They only jumped in when they saw progress on a new project.
That might tick a few people off, but that what it smells like to me. If they had any interest in the remake, let alone another sequel, they would have been vocal about continuing with the franchise and/or taking it in another direction. They were doing nothing with it. Nothing. What they did do prior to now was run the franchise into the ground.
Am I wrong here?
Now, there could be a solution. TWC, who is strapped and needs a hit somewhere to keep alive (gee, I wonder if it was a motive) could distribute the new Crow but let Relativity produce the picture. If the Weinstiens want they can be co-producers. Then they should step off and let the filmmakers go to work.
Question. Did the Wienstiens sue the folks who made the TV series Stairway To Heaven? The Weienstiens had nothing to do with that short lived TV series. Jeff Most and Ed Pressman, however, did. In short, all this is, in my opinion, is a pissing war and not much else.
Could it stop or delay the remake? Maybe. We shall see.
Thoughts?
