Fox has said it will seek an injunction blocking Warner's planned release of the film next March. Warner has argued that Fox should not be allowed to stop the movie, after standing by while Warner and its partners on the film, Paramount Pictures and Legendary Pictures, spent more than $100 million on the production, directed by Zack Snyder (300).
In a summary of its position in Friday's report, Warner said Fox "sat silently" as one of the producers of Watchmen, Lawrence Gordon, took the project "to studio after studio with Fox's express knowledge."
Fox, which filed a lawsuit in February, has claimed in its own filings that Mr. Gordon did not keep the studio apprised of his plans, as required by a 1994 agreement. That deal granted Mr. Gordon rights to Watchmen in "turnaround" - an industry term for arrangements under which producers can move a project from one studio to another under certain conditions.
In Warner's version of events, Mr. Gordon, who is not named as a defendant in the Fox suit, actually offered the project to Fox in 2005, shortly before bringing it to Warner after years of trying to make the movie with Paramount. "Fox simply rejected it," Warner said in the Friday filing.
In a summary of its position in Friday's report, Warner said Fox "sat silently" as one of the producers of Watchmen, Lawrence Gordon, took the project "to studio after studio with Fox's express knowledge."
Fox, which filed a lawsuit in February, has claimed in its own filings that Mr. Gordon did not keep the studio apprised of his plans, as required by a 1994 agreement. That deal granted Mr. Gordon rights to Watchmen in "turnaround" - an industry term for arrangements under which producers can move a project from one studio to another under certain conditions.
In Warner's version of events, Mr. Gordon, who is not named as a defendant in the Fox suit, actually offered the project to Fox in 2005, shortly before bringing it to Warner after years of trying to make the movie with Paramount. "Fox simply rejected it," Warner said in the Friday filing.
As of now, Watchmen is still scheduled to be released on March 6th, 2009.
Watchmen was released March 6th, 2009 and stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer. The film is directed by Zack Snyder.
Comments (43)
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Bink
i finished this book last night.
i was up until 4am reading it.
at the start of each chapter, i kept telling myself that this was it and i'd go to sleep.
i just couldnt stop. what a brilliant piece of work this book is. this movie needs to come out!!!
3 years agoby @justbink07Flag
Psycho
Just simply Bullsh*t.
3 years agoby @physco-123Flag
-comrade-
I agree with kennes, I wasn't a fan of 300 the book, but the movie was a lot of fun to watch.
moviebuff123, It's not that maniac(K?) has an opinion I don't like, it's that it's presumptive and ill-informed.
3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
T.Clark
Maniak is a box office numbering f*g who thinks he's being smart by using unknown words and is NOT entitled to that opinion until he reads the novel, so excuse me for thinking his "opinion" sucks floppy donkey dick
3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes
THIS IS BULLSH*T. JUST LET IT GET RELEASED YOU *SSHOLES!!!!!
3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag
MovieBuff
God dammit maniack.... here i was defending you that you weren't all about numbers and you start dishing out all these statistics about Mamma Mia. LOL
Just kidding man. You're entitled to your opinion... but i guess you need to be prepared for some major bashing when you diss an upcoming movie that everyone is anticipating. Careful careful careful with your words haha
3 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag
The Dark Knight
hA bullsh*t
3 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag
Bink
i just baught the book last week and ive been reading a chapter per day and i gotta say if this movie is half as good as the book, im all over it!
that scene where Rorschach hacks the dogs is gonna be so tight with all the transfers from ink blots to real imagery. hope peta doesn't get all legal on this movie too.
3 years agoby @justbink07Flag
Vamp
I definitely agree with MovieBuff123, though Vis. has talked me into reading it, but it'll be a while before I do. I've got the Twilight series preoccupying me anyhow.
3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag
Moviemaniack1993
Thank you moviebuff123. Although I think many liked Mamma Mia! It has HUGE numbers overseas and domestically it now holds the record for the highest opening for a musical ever. Add to that the large numbers it has brought in just domestically as well. And let us not forget it was launched against the biggest movie of the year. It has overcome and succeeded better than most predicted.
3 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag
MovieBuff
I've been reading all these comments and it just amazes me how ONE single comment can create a bashing frenzy. hahahahaha
I don't know moviemaniack.. and i know he's been wrong before (he'll probably be wrong again with his comments on Watchmen), but the guy is entitled to his opinion. He's not all about movies that make lots of money... he watched and LIKED Mamma Mia for christ's sake. haha
We're all here to talk about movies and we're NOT ALL gonna like the same ones. I personally didn't know a damn thing about Watchmen until Visionary talked me into reading the graphic novel.... I liked it and WILL be seeing the movie. But I'm not gonna tell anyone they're "idiots" or to "f*ck off" or to "get a f*cking life" just because he doesn't think a movie I want to see is gonna be good.
He thinks its gonna suck... most of us don't. It's just an opinion and we'll find out in March.... or later if f*cking Fox gets its way. Hope not.
3 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag
Chad Vital
lol I don't even know anyone who saw The Matrix in the theater...I think the dvd was more popular. Around here anyway.
3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
JT's Movie Page
Radimus, your right, I made a mistake and it reads like I said The Matrix had poor box office. What I meant in terms of The Matrix was even though it was a surprise hit, it still did not take on it's huge audience until good word of mouth made it a huge hit on home video. Either way, it is still a modern-day classic that will be remembered forever. Thanks for catching my error.
3 years agoby @johnjohnson7777Flag
Raoul Duke
lame
3 years agoby @raoulduke33Flag
Transformers89
I just heard the movie might be release in March 2010
3 years agoby @transformers89Flag
Vamp
Something told me that Visionary would be all over this.
3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag
Brian
Celluloid. Reported a month ago but this story provides new info. Get with it! READ!
3 years agoby @brianFlag
moviedirector88
I really hope everything will be done and settled between the companies and the movie won`t be postponed.
This movie looks amazing, for each time I see the trailer, I get alittle bit amazed!
I just have to get this comic!! :D
3 years agoby @moviedirector88Flag
Phil Mata
The movie's going to be released either Fox likes it or not, so they'd might as well blow that nifty idea out their ass. Even if it does get blocked in March, it'd be hilarious if Watchmen got a summer release date instead. Talk about a bitch slap!
3 years agoby @phil-mataFlag
Garret
Moviemaniak is like south park's uncle f*ckers & fox's the uncle, lol
3 years agoby @garretbyrneFlag
Splatter2010
get past the politics Hollywood and just release the damn film!
3 years agoby @mindscapeFlag
Radimus-83
J/J7777.... the Matrix did do really well at the box office. thats why they called it the surprise hit of 1999. but every thing else you said is in good order! :)
3 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
Zynthos
amen john johnson, amen.
3 years agoby @heir-of-isildur0Flag
JT's Movie Page
Moviemaniak, you said the same f*cking thing about the Dark Knight. That it would only be watched by fan boys while you and others went to go see Mamma Mia! or some sh*t like that. Last time I checked, The Dark Knight is the second highest-grossing film of all time (without inflation). But like The Visionary pointed out, THE MONEY DOESN'T F*CKING MATTER! It will still be a great movie and Fox needs to shut their f*cking mouths. Also, like Chad Vital, I had not seen anything on The Watchmen until the trailer and I'm psyched about seeing the movie. You just want to like the movies that make a lot of money because those are the ones you think will be remembered, I guessed. But, if you have forgotten, films like The Shawshank Redemption, The Matrix, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and even Citizen Kane did not do well in the Box-Office. They found their lives afterward and went on to become classics.
3 years agoby @johnjohnson7777Flag
Transformers89
f*** fox and Moviemaniak. they need to get a f*** life.
3 years agoby @transformers89Flag
The Doctor
They better not screw with the release date, as this is going to be one of the greatest comic films.
3 years agoby @ghettokidFlag
The Doctor
LOL @ NosePrint
3 years agoby @ghettokidFlag
NosePrint
Moviemaniack...what are you, 6? Stop "trying" to sound intellectual, do some research instead of seeing a trailer more than once, & learn how to be consistant with the tone you're applying. Using economics & then words like "drek" makes you come across like a joke with a stupid punch line. Pointless.
3 years agoby @noseprintFlag
ed_wood
The movie looks awesome, Fox better not screw up the release date. How could someone watching the Dark Knight think this looks stupid?
3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag
joekerr2e
"... and who the f*ck says "dreck!!" LMAO
I was wondering that myself.
3 years agoby @joekerr2eFlag