A lawsuit in Hollywood? Go figure…
Deadline is reporting that a legal row between The Weinstein Company and Relativity Media over the distribution of THE CROW reboot has gone underway today. You see, the original 1994 version of the film was distributed by Miramax, which was run by the Weinsteins. And they apparently feel the need to be compensated for the reboot. Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh doesn’t seem to see it that way.
Bert Fields, Bob and Harvey’s attorney on the case claims that “a written contract signed by everybody” which gives the Weinsteins worldwide distribution rights to THE CROW. After some back and forth jockeying, “Mr. Kavanaugh was not going to honor that contract. Apparently, he’s going to sell these rights to others. He made a bunch of threats,” Fields added.
And so legal action has been put into motion.
As you know by now, Relativity is keen on rebooting THE CROW as soon as possible, already assigning 28 WEEKS LATER director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo to helm, with Bradley Cooper in talks to star. Who knows what this lawsuit means for the immediate future of the film getting made, but as Fields puts it:
“If anybody tries to buy these distribution rights in The Crow, they are buying nothing but a lawsuit and they will get sued.”
Sounds serious. I suppose this is only good news if you thought Bradley Cooper as the new Eric Draven was a disastrous prospect. By the time all the legal bullshit subsides, Cooper may have already moved on to THE HANGOVER 3. Or LIMITLESS 2. Better yet, CASE 40.
What are your thoughts on this story?
Bradley Cooper’s HANGOVER 2 co-star Jamie Chung!