Wednesday, Aug. 20
Can you hear it? Listen closely ... that battle cry you hear is from fans hotly anticipating the "Watchmen" film who are incensed with Twentieth Century Fox's gambit to squelch Zack Snyder's highly anticipated film.
Some online hotheads are merely wondering what's the deal with Twentieth Century Fox waiting until "Watchmen" is nearly completed and slated for a March 2009 opening to stop release of the Warner Bros. film. Other theories have Fox trying to kill the much buzzed-about "Watchmen" because it is competition for its biggest upcoming releases, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
Jeff Jensen of EW.com says a source tells all of us not to worry: "Despite the legal mess over rights, Fox isn't actually interested in suppressing Snyder's film - they just want affirmation of ownership and/or restitution, and there are many scenarios by which Fox could get paid, including a cash settlement or distribution rights to the film. Either way, look for 'Watchmen' to be released, as scheduled, on March 6, 2009."
Fox filed a copy infringement and breach of contract lawsuit against Warner Bros. earlier this year, alleging that it had the "exclusive copyright and contract rights" to "produce and develop the picture and to distribute the work throughout the world." A California judge recently denied a motion by Warner Bros. to dismiss the suit, thought the studio insists that they have the sole rights to the project.
A movie adaptation of the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons complex graphic novel has been floating around Hollywood for years, with many directors and writers attached at various times. Let's hope that the two studios can settle their squabbling amicably (or at least, with enough money changing hands to soothe both sides) and the film made by Snyder -- the guy who finally got it done, and with Gibbons enthusiastically on board -- can be seen on time.
The exclusive clips of the film shown at Comic-Con in July and the sincere pitch by the director and stars of the film left fans thirsting to see it.
At some point, moviegoers will decide if Fox was right to try to get in on the action.
Posted
Aug 20 2008, 01:20 PM
by
Sharon Eberson