Warner Brothers and Fox Settle The Watchmen Suit
The copyright dispute between Warner Bros and Fox that was threatening the release of “Watchmen” has been resolved on Friday morning and request that the case be dismissed.
The Hollywood Reporter:
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal is said to involve a sizable cash payment to Fox and a percentage of the film’s boxoffice grosses; Fox will not be a co-distributor on the film, nor will it co-own the “Watchmen” property, but it will share in revenue derived from it. The studios released a joint statement last night.
“Warner Bros. acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography,” the statement read. “Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith defending against those claims.”
“The matter is fully and finally settled,” Fox’s attorney Louis A. Karasik said after Judge Gary Feess said he had read a lot about the settlement in the newspapers but noted “there is noting in my docket.”
Fox sued Warners in February of 2008, claiming copyright infringement based on agreements the studio had with producer Larry Gordon. Feess ruled on Dec. 24 that Gordon did not secure the proper rights to Watchmen from Fox before shopping the project and eventually setting it up with Warners. Feess’ decision prompted settlement talks to heat up because Warners faced the prospect of an injunction stopping its March 6 release of the $130 million comic book adaptation.
“Watchmen” hits theaters on March 6th, 2009.
For “Watchmen” trailers, clips, photos, posters and more movie info, go to the “Watchmen” movie Page.
The Dark Knight Storyman David Goyer On Batman 3 Rumors
Huge succeess for Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” brought in over $919 million (domestic and worldwide performance) for Warner Brothers, but also brought so much speculations and rumors about the (possible) sequel. So, it’s no surprise that everyone is trying to figure out the casting and talking about Batman 3.
We recently wrote about Johnny Depp’s reactions on rumors about his potential The Riddler role in also potential upcoming “The Dark Knight” sequel.
“It seems like it’d be a fun gig for a while, yeah,” Depp denied.
The same thing is with Philip Seymour Hoffman and role of The Penguin. He said that no one from Warner Brothers has given him a call:
“Some friend of mine told me he read that. First I heard of it”
Or that Angelina Jolie will take the role of Catwoman… OR that Cher is lining up for the same role!?
Finally, somebody has something to say:
“It’s All B.S.“
said “The Dark Knight” Screenwriter David Goyer.
“Chris and I haven’t even talked about it. He quite understandably is taking a long, long vacation and wants to purge himself. We have mused here and there but I mean Chris is pretty much a one movie at a time kind of guy. I wish I could tell you more. There really isn’t anything to tell.” said Goyer.
“If and when Chris is ready to talk – we’ll talk,” he promised.
So, this means that, for the present, there is nothing to announce about a third Batman movie from Nolan and company. No villains are set. No casting has been set. Nolan hasn’t even officially signed on for the third movie yet. There isn’t anything official.
source: MTV News
Ridley Scott will direct ‘Kind One’
Warner Brothers has hired Ridley Scott to produce and direct their upcoming drama ‘The Kind One‘. According to Variety, Casey Affleck is set to star in the project.
The script is based on Tom Epperson’s best selling novel. The author will also write the screenplay for the film.
The story is set in 1930s Los Angeles, and centers on an amnesiac (Affleck) who finds himself working for a mobster, a killer given the nickname “The Kind One”, and falling in love with the thug’s girlfriend.
Producer Jules Daly stated, “It’s a world that Ridley has never touched before, so that’s what drew him to the project.” The film does not have a confirmed start date at this time.
‘I Am Legend 2′ Coming Soon?
I Am Legend has made Warner Brothers a ridiculous amount of money, and it’s still in theaters making it. So it should come as no surprise to anyone to learn that the WB has already started lining things up for a sequel. Shock Till You Drop reports that they’ve gotten Richard Matheson, the author of the original novel on which the film is based, to sign off on the rights to a sequel.
Of course that doesn’t mean it’ll happen, it may be something Warners is doing “just in case”. A case, which I hope never comes. I love I Am Legend, in fact it made it into my top 10 list for 2007, but it’s perfect as is. It’s a standalone movie, there’s no room in it for a follow up. Anything else they do with it would invariably be a thinly constructed cash-in. There’s really only two ways to make another one. Either do a prequel, which would destroy the original film by over-explaining things we didn’t need to know about, or do a sequel which follows characters we don’t know or care about. Neither option is particularly attractive. The last man on Earth should be left alone.
