Watchmen has been trying to make its way to the big screen for a LONG time. Now we are in the utopian age of superhero films so it is finally happening. But Fox doesn’t want it to.
Fox filed to challenge the WB’s production of the DC property (also owned by the WB) since they owned the rights to once upon a time. Now that no one was willing to make it WB did it themselves and Fox wants a piece of that pie.
Nikke Finke reports that a federal judge has denied to dismiss 20th Century Fox’s legal claim on Watchmen. You may remember that they filed a lawsuit back in February claiming that their rights to the DC property still held. They seek an injunction to prevent Warner Bros’ adaptation of Watchmen from being released at all.
And at this point, that federal judge agrees with them.
I find it amazing how studios like this can just come out of the woodwork AFTER the film is done and in the can and suddenly call foul?
Its like eating 90% of the burger before deciding it didn’t taste good. The restaurant is going to call you on that one, so I am not surprised that WB tried to turf this claim too. Unfortunately when you check where the i’s are dotted they might be behind a wall on this one.
Money makes wheels turn, so if it does get ugly WB will make an offer to share profits, or pay out a fine for “violating” the deal. I don’t know the finer points of it all, but I find it very hard to believe that the WB would have gone through ALL this effort without getting at least one person to look into the former deals to make sure they were in the clear.
It all smells stink of it to me.
