Fox Trying To Stop Watchmen
The Hollywood Reporter is claiming that 20th Century Fox filed suit against Warner Bros. last Friday over the rights to the film version of Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The heart of the dispute? Fox says they still own the rights.
Fox claims that between 1986 and 1990, it acquired all movie rights to the 12-issue DC Comics series and screenplays by Charles McKeown and Sam Hamm. In 1991, Fox assigned some rights via a quitclaim to Largo International with the understanding that the studio held exclusive rights to distribute the first motion picture based on "Watchmen," according to the lawsuit.When Largo dismantled, the rights were transferred to producer Lawrence Gordon. Under a "turnaround agreement" between Fox and Gordon, the producer agreed to pay a buy-out price to Fox if he entered into any agreement with another studio or third party to develop or produce "Watchmen," among other things.
There appears to be a lot of complicated backstory here, but the gist of it is that everyone involved really should have looked into the rights a bit more closely before they started. It's not like these guys can't afford good lawyers.
That said, if this holds up production too much I will be greatly disappointed. I know a film version of Watchmen will never hold up against the amazing comic, but I still want to see it.
FOX SUES WARNER BROS. TO STOP WATCHMEN PRODUCTION [Newsarama]
Sgt. Sausagepants
Posted to Comics on 12 February 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: Alan Moore, Movie, Watchmen
Frater Mine by Sean McGrath and Juan Romera
If Spider-Man can untangle the mess of lawsuits in his film history and be brought to the silver screen then anyone can, Watchmen included.
While I'd certainly want to see it, I can't help but wonder if any movie adaptation isn't doomed to failure, especially when compared to the rich and layered source material. Some of the most interesting things in the series were the little extras put into each issue, such as the pirate comic and book exerpts...how can it all be folded into a 2 hour (or even 3 hour) movie? Personally, I don't think my ass can stand sitting for any longer that.