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Watchmen Lawsuit Update: Turnaround
Watchmen
But at least the fans are happy, right?
Watchmen Lawsuit Talk: Turnaround
The New York Times have posted an article covering the Watchmen lawsuit between Fox and Warner Bros and they claim that it all comes down to a little word called 'turnaround.'
Central to Fox’s complaint is the mysterious matter of what is called turnaround.
On its face, turnaround is a contractual mechanism that allows a studio to release its interest in a dormant 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.
According to the court filings, Fox had declared its willingness to part with the project under certain terms in 1991. In any case, Fox says, Mr. Gordon was supposed to resubmit “Watchmen” to Fox every time he came up with a changed element.
Warner gave “Watchmen” the go-ahead when Zack Snyder, immediately after his surprise hit with “300,” took it under wing. Yet Mr. Gordon, by Fox’s account, never checked back with Fox about any of this.
Mr. Gordon did not respond to requests for comment. Warner, both in court and in a statement last week, said it had done everything legally necessary to make the film.
So, yes, Fox has some sort of open case based on this; but it looks like a lot of the evidence will fall on he-said, she-said. Why are fans already up against Fox in their move to go after Warner Bros? Hard to say, but I can guarantee Fox would have never made a Watchmen movie to the caliber that Warner Bros. has; and I can say that without having seen it yet. For evidence, look to Hitman, Babylon A.D. and Eragon.
Check out the entire report at NYTimes.
Watchmen hits theaters on March 6th, 2009.
For the poster, trailers, pictures and more info on the film, go to the Watchmen
Movie Page.
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