News

Watchmen Trial Date Set for January 6

A federal judge has set January 6 as the trial date for the suit between 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers over who owns the rights to Watchmen, one of the most hotly anticipated comic book adaptations in years. The film, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Patrick Wilson and Billy Crudup, has a March 6 release date, which Warner Brothers has remained firm on. The studio has not announced any plans to bump the film in light of the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess stated that the issues at hand are too complicated to be resolved in the interim. He also said that Fox should forgo any plans to implement a preliminary injunction against Warner to halt the film's release and encouraged both parties to begin building their cases with factual records, discovery, and depositions. Feess also indicated that he would like the trial to move along in an expeditious manner.

The main issue that lies at the heart of the case is whether or not Fox still holds any rights to Watchmen. Warner Brothers claims that the studio gave up its rights back in 1991.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
09.03.08