DISQUS

Ashvin · 10 months ago

I'm glad it's all over, but still, the entire thing was a dick move on Fox's part (just because they were in the right legally doesn't keep it from being a dick move). Also, I hope that the fact Fox gets "gross participation in any sequels or spin-offs" doesn't mean Fox is gonna pressure Warner into that kind of guaranteed fanboy shit storm. I'd hope most people are sensible enough to know that a sequel to Watchmen would make no fucking sense whatsoever, but I don't want to see Watchmen Origins: Rorschach come out of this whole deal.

Victor · 10 months ago

oh hell...it really could be worse....imagine a world with 20th Century producing Watchmen. In the modern-era, with Rorschach in a "ultimate Tech" suit, a fit Nite Owl, Megan Fox playing Silk Specter, and The Comedian played by Dane Cook....HELL NO!

Joshi · 10 months ago

Wait, how does this work with Paramount handling international distribution? Surely if Warners were only distributing domestically, they were only going to get a domestic return, and perhaps a percentage of the international return... which I then suppose would mean that when Fox claims its 5-8.5%, that'll be coming out of Warners own pocket... so Warners could end up losing out on this one if Watchmen does better overseas than it does in the States.

Nish · 10 months ago

I would actually like to see a Watchmen spin-off or TV series covering thier lives as crimefighters back in the day. This is pretty petty arguing but Im still disappointed that Fox get the money for not making a film.

JMoney · 10 months ago

They aren't getting 5% for doing nothing, they are getting 5% because they owned the damn rights to the film! Everyone can blame Fox all they want but the reality is, whoever was at Fox back in the day had the foresight to acquire the rights to make this film, and it was their choice not to develop it. I agree it could be seen as a dick move but maybe they just didnt think it could be done properly yet, we still dont know if it can, a few wicked trailers does not a movie make. Either way, they are getting 5% because they owned the rights, not for nothing.

Imagine if you owned, say Obi-wan's original light saber from Star Wars, probably worth a fair bit of money to some people. but instead of selling it you decide to wait until it's worth more. But your buddy thinks you are foolish, comes along and takes the sword and puts a lot of work into marketing the sword and sells it, don't you think you'd be entitled to the money he got from the sale? it was your light saber, just because your buddy thought you were mishandling it doesnt entitle him to the profits. I'd say Fox is getting screwed here, 5% of something you owned is a pretty low number, we should be praising them for agreeing to this settlement so we can see the movie on time.

PS: I was going to use a baseball rookie card as an example but i figured i should relate it to movies, so thats why i used the light saber as an example.

TL_is_now_TJL · 10 months ago

Good analogy JMoney.

I just don't understand how you can make a movie you don't own the rights to.
Years ago in college I interned for a movie producer, and one of the few things I remember learning from the experience is putting together a film project from a legal standpoint is a gigantic pain in the ass! Who has rights to this, rights to that, copyright on this, blah blah etc...
Even back then I learned that if you don't own the rights, you can't make the movie.

Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago

Because the situation wasn't as simple as owning the rights. I know that sounds like the dumbest statement on the planet, but the case has more to do with Turnaround than pure rights ownership. Larry Gordon is the real chump in all this. And Warners are chumps for following a chump.

But you're right - Warners has got an awful track record for something that should be taken so seriously. Anyone remember The Dukes of Hazard?

Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago

That's not a great analogy. It would be more accurate to say that you have a Nolan Ryan rookie card, don't want to sell it, but loan it out to your friend Larry to sell through any auction house he wants. Actually, there's no good analogy because Turnaround and Copyright Law is much more complex than all that. It's not like selling an object - it's about three degrees removed from that. You own the rights to create a blueprint for building a lightsaber based on another person's completed lightsaber essentially.

And praising Fox for settling assumes that they could have made money with the film on their own - which is not a very safe assumption. 5% of GROSS is much better than losing $10 million.

PS: I chose a Nolan Ryan rookie card because I'm from Texas.

JMoney · 10 months ago

I know the analogy isn't perfect, I've studied Intellectual Property, I know the issues, I was just using a simplified analogy in order to make the point that you shouldn't be mad at Fox for wanting compensation for something they owned.

All this anger towards Fox is essentially based on the fact that everyone thinks The Watchman will be a good movie and they were potentially going to stop us from seeing it. But it could be a huge piece of shit, you cant tell everything from a couple trailers. The guys at Fox may have felt it wasnt the right time to make the movie, that they couldn't get the effects right, or convey the story correctly, that was their prerogative. If the Watchman does turn out to suck, Fox will look a lot better for wanting to sit on the rights until they were ready to make a film.

790 · 10 months ago

WB lost a crapload, however it could have been worse. If they would have lost all rIghts to the film 5 to 8.5% would be the least of there worries.

I think there damage control was pretty decent. They must expect the film to gross in the high 500 mil range and they prob don't have any (solid) sequel plans.

I have to ask if the dvd rights to the Batman tv series were involved Cole?

David G · 10 months ago

I guess we can be thankful that Fox is that dumb to think having rights to a sequel would be a plus. How the firck can there be a sequel? Oh well, what goes around comes around , huh?