WATCHMEN Update! News! Vid! Pict0rs!
The latest issue of magazine SciFiNow has a WATCHMEN article. Not much in the way of new news, but it does have the main actors discussing their characters. Have a read:
Also, the Brazilian film magazine SET has four different WATCHMEN covers on their latest issue:
COURT DATE SET FOR FOX~WARNER WAR OVER WATCHMEN
As reported over at WatchmenComicMovie.Com - The best site for all your WATCHMEN film/GN news:
After judge meets with studio attorneys, a date is set for FOX’s battle against WB for the film rights to the comic adaptation
The battle between Fox and Warner Bros. over the rights to the comic book adaptation WATCHMEN cooled off a bit Tuesday (02/09/08) when a federal judge set a January 6th 2009 trial date for the case.
But U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess said FOX should forgo any attempt to get a preliminary injunction against Warners to stop the release of the film because the issues were far too complex to be resolved on an interim basis, sources said.
Instead, Feess told both sides to build a factual record and start expedited discovery and depositions immediately.
FOX still could ask Feess to permanently enjoin Warners from releasing the film following the discovery phase.
At issue is whether Fox still holds the rights to WATCHMEN. The studio sued Warners in February, just as principal shooting for the film was wrapping up in Vancouver, for copyright infringement and interference with its contract rights under a 1991 agreement between Fox and Largo Entertainment producer Larry Gordon.
Under that deal, FOX “quitclaimed” its right to WATCHMEN to Largo, with the understanding that if the production company proceeded with making a big-screen version, then the movie would be distributed by FOX. It later negotiated a “turnaround notice” with Gordon that established a buyout formula for the studio if Gordon wanted to buy out FOX’s rights. But, according to Fox, Gordon failed to follow that deal. Apparently Gordon only paid FOX $340,000 of a much higher fee. Ultimately, FOX wants the rest of their buy out money.
Gordon negotiated a quitclaim contract with Warners in 2006, which it claims gave them the rights to WATCHMEN. But FOX contends it retains the rights because of Gordon’s failure to buy out the studio’s rights. Warners said FOX gave up its rights in 1991.
The Fox-Warner battle royale turns on matters potentially more troubling to the film industry at large. Central to FOX’s complaint is that dirty little word - turnaround.
At face value, turnaround is a contractual mechanism that allows a studio to release its interest in a dead film project, while recovering costs, plus interest, from any rival that eventually adopts the project. But turnaround is a stacked deck.
The turnaround clauses in a typical contract are also insurance for studio executives who do not want to be humiliated by a competitor who makes a hit out of their castoffs.
That trick turns on a term of art: “changed elements.” A producer of a movie acquired in turnaround who comes up with a new director, or star, or story line, or even a reduction in budget, must give the original studio another shot at making the movie because of changed elements, even if a new backer has entered the picture.
Now, Larry Gordon has not responded to any media requests for comment. Warner, both in court and in a statement last week, said it had done everything legally necessary to make the film.
In the WATCHMEN case, it remains to be seen whether Judge Feess will grant an injunction blocking the movie’s release while sorting things out. But in 2005, Judge Feess issued an injunction blocking the planned release of Warner’s film Dukes of Hazzard in a rights dispute, leading to a settlement under which the studio paid $17.5 million to a producer who claimed infringement.
So what’s the bottom line? Well, I’m guessing the January 6th court date took a lot of wind out of FOX’s sails and give them that much less leverage to turn the screws on Warners since a ruling will happen almost two months before the film’s release. FOX originally wanted a court date set in July 2009, thus increasing the chances of WATCHMEN being blocked for release. My guess is between now and January 6th, there will be a settlement.
What remains to be seen is how much money FOX will be able to ply from WB.
More confirmation that FOX have no influence over the film is that the WATCHMEN video journals are still being released on the 6th of each month, leading up to the film's premier on March 6th 2009.
The latest video journal is here for your viewing pleasure:
Expect all the video journals to be included as extras on the 4 1/2hr "Absolute" (special extended) DVD of the film!
For those who like that sort of thing, some screen caps from the vid :)
Rorchach: In ur bar, beating on ur thugz
"What do you mean you haven't read WATCHMEN? OUT!!!
Nite Owl II, out of shape sneaky sneak ninja style ;)
The Keane Act riots ready to kick off
What they need is some costumed vigilantes to come sort them out ;)
Filming Silk Spectre II visiting Dr. Manhattan on Mars
Dude, do you have a boner?
No, no really... I don't... this tron suit is just really... snug.
Castro and the Ruskies don't look too impressed
Patrick Wilson look suitably dowdy as Dan Dreiberg
Dan: No dammit! I am not impotent!!! Zack: Whatever you say buddy...
That's Patrick, not Dan, using a mobile - those models weren't around in 1985 :)
Dan and Laurie (Silk Spectre II) out on a date
Dan and Laurie again, as seen through the window of The Gunga Diner. Notice the film showing? It's as it was
in the GN back in 1986-87, and spookily FOX is releasing the updated remake in Dec '08. o_O
It can't be safe for two ex costumed vigilantes to walk the streets of New York at night
Why do a close-up shot of a radiation warning sign? Looks like they are filming the opening panels of Chapter III of the GN :)
There are loads of little details to be found by eagle-eyed readers of the GN
the "Tales of the Black Freighter" comic will be released as an animated dvd a week after WATCHMEN is released in cinema's.
It will then be added in at the right places in the "Absolute" edition of the film DVD.
Filming at The Intersection :)
This production journal has killed off some concerns I had that the street sets looked too clean and not grubby enough for WATCHMEN.
This pleases me, yes! :D
Also, the Brazilian film magazine SET has four different WATCHMEN covers on their latest issue:
COURT DATE SET FOR FOX~WARNER WAR OVER WATCHMEN
As reported over at WatchmenComicMovie.Com - The best site for all your WATCHMEN film/GN news:
After judge meets with studio attorneys, a date is set for FOX’s battle against WB for the film rights to the comic adaptation
The battle between Fox and Warner Bros. over the rights to the comic book adaptation WATCHMEN cooled off a bit Tuesday (02/09/08) when a federal judge set a January 6th 2009 trial date for the case.
But U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess said FOX should forgo any attempt to get a preliminary injunction against Warners to stop the release of the film because the issues were far too complex to be resolved on an interim basis, sources said.
Instead, Feess told both sides to build a factual record and start expedited discovery and depositions immediately.
FOX still could ask Feess to permanently enjoin Warners from releasing the film following the discovery phase.
At issue is whether Fox still holds the rights to WATCHMEN. The studio sued Warners in February, just as principal shooting for the film was wrapping up in Vancouver, for copyright infringement and interference with its contract rights under a 1991 agreement between Fox and Largo Entertainment producer Larry Gordon.
Under that deal, FOX “quitclaimed” its right to WATCHMEN to Largo, with the understanding that if the production company proceeded with making a big-screen version, then the movie would be distributed by FOX. It later negotiated a “turnaround notice” with Gordon that established a buyout formula for the studio if Gordon wanted to buy out FOX’s rights. But, according to Fox, Gordon failed to follow that deal. Apparently Gordon only paid FOX $340,000 of a much higher fee. Ultimately, FOX wants the rest of their buy out money.
Gordon negotiated a quitclaim contract with Warners in 2006, which it claims gave them the rights to WATCHMEN. But FOX contends it retains the rights because of Gordon’s failure to buy out the studio’s rights. Warners said FOX gave up its rights in 1991.
The Fox-Warner battle royale turns on matters potentially more troubling to the film industry at large. Central to FOX’s complaint is that dirty little word - turnaround.
At face value, turnaround is a contractual mechanism that allows a studio to release its interest in a dead film project, while recovering costs, plus interest, from any rival that eventually adopts the project. But turnaround is a stacked deck.
The turnaround clauses in a typical contract are also insurance for studio executives who do not want to be humiliated by a competitor who makes a hit out of their castoffs.
That trick turns on a term of art: “changed elements.” A producer of a movie acquired in turnaround who comes up with a new director, or star, or story line, or even a reduction in budget, must give the original studio another shot at making the movie because of changed elements, even if a new backer has entered the picture.
Now, Larry Gordon has not responded to any media requests for comment. Warner, both in court and in a statement last week, said it had done everything legally necessary to make the film.
In the WATCHMEN case, it remains to be seen whether Judge Feess will grant an injunction blocking the movie’s release while sorting things out. But in 2005, Judge Feess issued an injunction blocking the planned release of Warner’s film Dukes of Hazzard in a rights dispute, leading to a settlement under which the studio paid $17.5 million to a producer who claimed infringement.
So what’s the bottom line? Well, I’m guessing the January 6th court date took a lot of wind out of FOX’s sails and give them that much less leverage to turn the screws on Warners since a ruling will happen almost two months before the film’s release. FOX originally wanted a court date set in July 2009, thus increasing the chances of WATCHMEN being blocked for release. My guess is between now and January 6th, there will be a settlement.
What remains to be seen is how much money FOX will be able to ply from WB.
More confirmation that FOX have no influence over the film is that the WATCHMEN video journals are still being released on the 6th of each month, leading up to the film's premier on March 6th 2009.
The latest video journal is here for your viewing pleasure:
Expect all the video journals to be included as extras on the 4 1/2hr "Absolute" (special extended) DVD of the film!
For those who like that sort of thing, some screen caps from the vid :)
Rorchach: In ur bar, beating on ur thugz
"What do you mean you haven't read WATCHMEN? OUT!!!
Nite Owl II, out of shape sneaky sneak ninja style ;)
The Keane Act riots ready to kick off
What they need is some costumed vigilantes to come sort them out ;)
Filming Silk Spectre II visiting Dr. Manhattan on Mars
Dude, do you have a boner?
No, no really... I don't... this tron suit is just really... snug.
Castro and the Ruskies don't look too impressed
Patrick Wilson look suitably dowdy as Dan Dreiberg
Dan: No dammit! I am not impotent!!! Zack: Whatever you say buddy...
That's Patrick, not Dan, using a mobile - those models weren't around in 1985 :)
Dan and Laurie (Silk Spectre II) out on a date
Dan and Laurie again, as seen through the window of The Gunga Diner. Notice the film showing? It's as it was
in the GN back in 1986-87, and spookily FOX is releasing the updated remake in Dec '08. o_O
It can't be safe for two ex costumed vigilantes to walk the streets of New York at night
Why do a close-up shot of a radiation warning sign? Looks like they are filming the opening panels of Chapter III of the GN :)
There are loads of little details to be found by eagle-eyed readers of the GN
the "Tales of the Black Freighter" comic will be released as an animated dvd a week after WATCHMEN is released in cinema's.
It will then be added in at the right places in the "Absolute" edition of the film DVD.
Filming at The Intersection :)
This production journal has killed off some concerns I had that the street sets looked too clean and not grubby enough for WATCHMEN.
This pleases me, yes! :D