'Watchmen': Producer speaks out

BigB Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM EST

http://www.cracked.com/blog/fox-can-eat-several-dicks/

Nuff said...

Roger Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 12:41 AM EST

To Rorscach:
I'm a Watchman fan since the graphic novel first came out. And I think this legal battle over the movie stinks.
But... to say that anyone who decides to watch Fox's Wolverine movie is worse than Hitler is not just waaaaaay over the top, it's downright stupid. Get a grip man. Hitler masterminded the Holocaust and ignited World War II. Compared to that, this legal dispute over a movie is less than nothing.

To Jack Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 06:13 PM EST

"I will not watch anything Fox puts out other than Fringe on television. Other than that, they have nothing." Wait, so you're not to watch anything on Fox unless it's something you like? That'll show 'em, Che.

el Gato Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 05:56 PM EST

Seriously, when will you people admit that the Hollywood movie machine is not about artistic expression and pleasing the fans, it's about getting paid. Fox could give a crap about "Watchmen". What they give a crap about is getting their percentage of the profits. It's the same all over. Warners will eventually pay up, and the movie will hit theaters --- and then everybody will get back to complaining about how it failed to meet expectations.

Que sera sera.

Jack Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 05:56 PM EST

Fox sucks.

I love the X-Files. They made the second movie for that. Horrible. Yet they did not want to make Watchmen.

Yes, Fox owns the rights. They should have relinquished those rights as they were not going to do anything with what they called a piece of "sh*t".

I will not watch anything Fox puts out other than Fringe on television. Other than that, they have nothing. The have nothing that's why they like reality-tv crap.

Get real Fox. There is your reality.

Normalman Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 01:18 PM EST

While I admire WB for making the movie, the law's the law and WB clearly flouted and needs to cut a deal with Fox. If we're going to boycott, we should boycott something from each studio to make it clear they have to both work to solve the problem.

Jon Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 12:05 PM EST

hahaha. Drew McWeeny is using his real name now, is he? Anyway, this producer is full of it -- he can bang the bars on his crib all he wants, but the fact remains they made a stupid decision not to deal with this BEFORE over 100 million dollars was spent. Just because you want to ignore something doesn't mean it's going to go away. Now they are paying the price.

And on an unrelated note: why do we get 1000 characters for these types of articles but only 500 for TV Watch and Reviews? Make it 1000 for everything, EW. It would make writing a lot easier on here.

Kell Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 11:16 AM EST

I'm with Steve: we fans of Watchmen need to speak up, unite ... something! Warner's will recover from the loss, and Fox doesn't care if we don't go to their movies: enough other people will. Do enough of us really want a Watchmen movie to make a difference? This is *our* movie, not Fox's.

Rorscach Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 11:11 AM EST

Boycott Wolverine! If you buy a ticket to Fox's Wolverine movie, then you are worse than Hitler.

XSE Drake Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM EST

This will do far more damage to Fox, regardless of the outcome. People who watch the industry or are a part of it see Fox as the bad guys here, and while this may not be a large segment of the population, it is a vocal one. Even a 2% dip in ticket sales or TV ratings will hurt this company which hasn't had a hit film in quite some time. As ye reap...

Abe Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 06:58 AM EST

While I can't speak to the legal issues (but everything I've read seems to to concur, if only begrudgingly or in passing, that Fox is in the right here), I'm glad the movie ended up being made by those with a genuine interest in and passion for the material. I'm not familiar with the Watchman story beyond small detail picked up here and there but it seems like a compelling story, and Fox is known for shody, shallow, and seemingly disinterest work as of late, no more so than in the comic properties it acquires. In the end, I just hope that the original cut it released without the Fox chop shop treatment. And the fans who think any kind of noticeable boycott of Fox will come about in the event of the unfavorable are deluding themselves. In time even they will go back to seeing their movies, assuming they ever actually stuck to the boycott at all.

Ricky Ricardo's evil twin Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 05:40 AM EST

Sounds like those big plans for appeal must be going south real fast! This whole letter to the fans scheme and begging Fox to back off just reeks of desperation.

JR Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 05:36 AM EST

Warners blew it. Fox acquired, with cold hard cash, the rights to make Watchmen and while they chose not make the movie, they still own those rights. At the very least they deserve a return on their investment. If someone produced a property that Mr. Levin held the rights to , I doubt he’d let the other party’s passion and artistry trump his right to compensation for the rights he bought. It’s basic law.

radu Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 01:18 AM EST

FOX people are idiots!!! WB is and has been the best studio for decades!!!!

hc Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 12:14 AM EST

Levin is just trying not to look like a moron for producing a movie he never had the right to do from the start. Private property rights are fundamental to any society. Enthusiasm, for a Zac Snyder movie, no less, doesn't trump that.

caliban821 Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST

I strongly suspect Fox plans to force Warners to give them a percentage or payout. If they can get the film delayed it put them in a stronger position and put more pressure on WB to yield. In the long run this is giving the film more free PR and will likely increase the box office. As far as Levin's comments about Fox's comments about the script, I recall Snyder saying he was unhappy with it also and made them change it to adhere to the source material?

Steve Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 11:19 PM EST

We fans need to figure something out to get our voices heard.

sdhrah4r Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM EST

if watchmen is moved.. I will boycott every Fox movie in 09' yes Wolverine too

Sean Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM EST

If Fox was any smart, they'd the whole movie alone and let it pass and only collect a certain percentage of the revenues. But Fox is full of morons and doesn't see the logic. Leave the Watchmen alone.