Warner Bros. aren’t having much luck with their defense against 20th Century Fox’s legal claim that the studio will illegally release Watchmen next year as Fox claim WB don’t actually hold the rights to the film.

A judge has decided that Warner Bros’ attempts to dismiss Fox’s lawsuit were unfounded, and Fox do have a genuine claim that could potentially earn millions in box office revenue as compensation. Of course Fox aren’t just after financial compensation, they want the film blocked from release entirely, a bold, brass if not a tad hopeful desire as they want to make an example out of the studio.

Financial compensation seems to be the only logical outcome here as I would very much doubt a judge would go as far as blocking a film’s release.

Fox, who filed the lawsuit in February - claim they never gave up the rights to Alan Moore’s graphic novel which they claim they have heled excluisvely since 1994, despite Paramount trying to push through an adaptation with Paul Greengrass just a few years ago.

A Fox statement said…

“We will be asking the court to enforce Fox’s copyright interests in ‘The Watchmen’ and enjoin the release of the Warner Bros. film and any related ‘Watchmen’ media that violate our copyright interests in that property.”

Zack Snyder’s Watchmen, a movie which has been two decades in the making… is expected to be released on March 7th next year.

source - variety