Here are some excerpts from the report over at The Hollywood Reporter. While you may think it's a little early to say that they're getting closer to losing the rights, the very fact that this trial is moving ahead bring us closer to the day when the courts decide who exactly should hold the rights to the Man of Steel. A decision which may change Superman forever.
Warners challenged that ruling, and now U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright has modified the order, allowing the studio to restart its information-gathering and "proceed with full discovery of heirs Joanne Siegel, Laura Siegel Larson, Jean Peavy and Mark Peavy."
Now, as Warners fast-tracks its planned Christopher Nolan-produced, Zack Snyder-directed Superman reboot, Toberoff is fighting back agressively against that lawsuit, filing a host of motions attempting to have the case dismissed and Warners punished for targeting him personally. Now, thanks to this ruling, Warners will soon have its chance to ask questions of Toberoff's clients.
A judge has previously warned the studio that they could lose some of its key copyrights which would include not only TV shows like
Smallville but also the upcoming reboot from Zack Snyder. For now, Warner Bros. is moving forward as if the licenses will remain in place, and have fast-tracked another Superman movie. However, it will eventually be up to a judge on whether that movie will see the light of day in a theater.