The fate of one of the most highly anticipated big-screen comic-book adaptations hangs in the balance as 20th Century Fox gets its day in court. Daily Variety reports that a Los Angeles federal judge has set Jan. 6 for the start of trial in Fox’s lawsuit against Warner Bros. over film rights to the Watchmen graphic novel from author Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons. If Fox get its way, the movie may never be released, though it’s already in the can and has a March 6, 2009 release date.
Warner Bros. suffered a setback two weeks ago when its motion to dismiss the case was rejected by judge Gary Allen Feess. Lawyers on both sides will have the rest of the year for discovery and deposition proceedings. Once the trial gets underway, a speedy resolve is expected.
Fox acquired movie rights to Watchmen and screenplays by Charles McKeown and Sam Hamm between 1986 and 1990. The studio, which had $1 million wrapped up in development, then assigned certain rights to Largo International, providing that the studio held exclusive rights to distribute the first Watchmen film. Largo eventually folded and rights reverted to producer Lawrence Gordon, who, according to Fox, failed to pay the studio a buy-out price when he took the project to Warner Bros.
Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead-2004), Watchmen is a unique take on the superhero genre that stars Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino and Malin Akerman. The trailer can be accessed at the official website, http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/.
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