Superman Setback For Warner Bros.?

Superman Setback For Warner Bros.?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, there was what could be a major setback for Warner Bros. in terms of the Man of Steel.

By EdGross - Apr 13, 2011 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Says the article, "A judge has rejected Warner Bros.' attempts to pry open secret documents that purportedly show an agreement between the estates of Superman co-creators Joel Shuster and Jerry Siegel not to make further copyright deals with the studio. The documents are said to also contain a formula for how the two estates will share proceeds on Superman once they successfully terminate Warner's rights to the lucrative franchise.... The two estates has been fighting with Warner Bros. for more than a decade over Superman rights and profits, sending notices in the mail in 1999 that purported to exercise termination rights under the 1976 Copyright Act. The heirs filed suit in 2004 that sought a declaration that they had successfully terminated rights to the first Superman comic book published by Detective Comics in 1938, which contains much of the famous mythology of the Man of Steel. In 2008, on summary judgment, a judge granted that wish.

"The shielded document may contain clues about the future of Superman. By 2013, Warner is set to lose certain rights to the character to both the Siegel and Shuster estates. In the meantime, Warner Bros.’ big-budget reboot Superman: Man of Steel is currently in advanced development and the issue of who will own what is also at the doorstep of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals."

For more, follow the link.

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r4dagast
r4dagast - 4/13/2011, 11:39 AM
sick of this shit, [frick] you children of joel and jerry
SHAZAM171
SHAZAM171 - 4/13/2011, 11:42 AM
I hope this delays everything so the whole cast can be recasted. I REALLY DO!!!! GOD PLEEEEASE!!!!!!!
soberchimera
soberchimera - 4/13/2011, 11:44 AM
This has gone on for way too long. Warner Bros. just needs to pay off these brats so they'll shut up and let us enjoy a decent Superman flick.
Kurbbsyde
Kurbbsyde - 4/13/2011, 11:44 AM
Geez WB has the money why not just pay them and be done with it. It will be more then refunded in the years to come and this time make sure and keep the estates gettign the royalties or whatever and they will stop tryign to get money.
Matador
Matador - 4/13/2011, 11:45 AM
WIN!

DBeck
DBeck - 4/13/2011, 11:46 AM


StrangerX
StrangerX - 4/13/2011, 11:47 AM
So I'm guessing that's why Snyder's Superman may not appear and we will get a new suit in JLA.
revloveR
revloveR - 4/13/2011, 11:51 AM
WB might as well make this film a 2 part cluster [frick] with all of supes villains with the sequel to follow right before they lose the rights.
naterator
naterator - 4/13/2011, 11:56 AM
Hmmmmm....sounds like a frickin unnecessary mess. WB will lose the rights for SUPERMAN....and this will be the cause of the end of the world...lol. Good Lord!

Hopefully if they do lose the rights then DC will try to follow wherever he goes.....I cant imagine Supes under Marvel. Its just too weird to think about.....MARVEL would turn him into a villain or something. lol.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 4/13/2011, 11:57 AM
@xXkryptoniteXx
Snyder is going to have so much studio interference that it won't even seem like we're watching one of his movies. Which could be a good or bad thing considering he uses WAY too much slow motion in his movies, but then again we could have another Spider-Man 3.
superotherside
superotherside - 4/13/2011, 11:59 AM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


GIFSoup
naterator
naterator - 4/13/2011, 11:59 AM
....And BAtman hemling the JLA? Not sure how that would work....hes kinda always been second to Martian Manhunter...the behind he scenes guy in the JLA. SHAZAM - CAPTAIN MARVEL to lead JLA. UGH!!!! THis all just disgusts me.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 4/13/2011, 12:02 PM
@soberchimera-I doubt that Nolan would allow the studio to interfere that much since they need to make a profit off this movie.
RedeyeJedi
RedeyeJedi - 4/13/2011, 12:03 PM
NO! I just want an action packed Superman movie. Is that too much to ask?
LP4
LP4 - 4/13/2011, 12:07 PM
Stupid [frick]ing siegel heirs are going to ruin the whole movie!!!!

Dedpool
Dedpool - 4/13/2011, 12:10 PM
SO instead of trying to ink a new deal, where they'd get a decent share (cause I'm sure WB doesnt want to lose the rights and would find some even ground) they'd rather just keep this going and ruin it for the millions of fans that Seigel's character has. Okay sure that makes sense.
mattnotis
mattnotis - 4/13/2011, 12:12 PM
Even if the rights do go back to the families, WB has more than enough $ to buy back the rights. Just give them $20-30 million each and shut them the hell up.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 4/13/2011, 12:14 PM
Either force the Warner Bros bean counters to pay the Seigel's heirs their due, or make Captain Marvel leader of the JLA.
WellDrawn
WellDrawn - 4/13/2011, 12:15 PM
Imagine if this look had caught on and the new movie used this suit.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 4/13/2011, 12:15 PM
Third option, force the bean counters to create a new character, as original as Superman.
Coldblood6
Coldblood6 - 4/13/2011, 12:16 PM
@ Darkmatter.

Agreed!!! My DC fanboy friends would NEVER hear the end of it from me.

In reality though I think its FAR more important that Marvel studios get back the rights to FF, X-men, Spiderman, etc., you know, INTERESTING chracters.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 4/13/2011, 12:17 PM
@StrangerX yeah, but the success of this film determines whether or not WB will keep the rights, so you can bet the studio is going to make sure everything is where they want it to be. Nolan has influence sure, but he's not a studio head and he's going to be far too focused on Batman anyway.

@Coldblood6 you might want to try READING a few Superman books before you label him uninteresting.
skullboy
skullboy - 4/13/2011, 12:19 PM
Getting real sick of this.
paulyd3
paulyd3 - 4/13/2011, 12:20 PM
Thank the Gods as pictured below
wf1

, becuse casting is all wrong for this MOS movie. Cavil is not superman, he is more Hal Jordan or Scott Summers. Amy adams needs to play lana langs mom for christs sakes.

hal_jordan
Routh owns superman
14804L

JWStubner
JWStubner - 4/13/2011, 12:21 PM
I knew this was going to happen. I'm surprised it took this long to come up in the news.

None of you seem to actually follow this story so let me clear this up for you as simple as I can. Warner Bros. is at risk of not being able to tell or reference Superman's origin story mainly. There's more stuff than just that but that's the biggest thing Warner Bros. is at risk of losing as early as 2013, NOT Superman himself.

Man of Steel is going to be a retelling of Superman's origin loosely based on Geoff Johns' "Secret Origin." Much like Batman Begins being based on Batman: Year One. Not a bad idea on paper but considering these ongoing legal proceedings, a complete reboot of the franchise retelling the origin AGAIN might be the worst thing Warner Bros. could have done with the next Superman movie.
Durango95
Durango95 - 4/13/2011, 12:22 PM
@darkmatter
could marvel actually do that?
McGribble
McGribble - 4/13/2011, 12:23 PM
I can't help but to be bothered by the families doing this. If Joel Shuster and Jerry Siege were alive today they would look at what is going on with shame. It is sick that these people are asking for money when they did NOTHING for it. Joel Shuster and Jerry Siege would see the fans excitement for what they created and take steps to insure the fans where happy. This is a bunch of crap! For the simple principal of things I hope the family's get NOTHING!
TheOnlyWoj
TheOnlyWoj - 4/13/2011, 12:27 PM
Not to mention the 9th Circuit is a problem. I mean, they claimed the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional.
Kurbbsyde
Kurbbsyde - 4/13/2011, 12:30 PM
@GiveMeYoruSkull
Of course Marvel could do that. If the rights revert back to the heirs I'm sure Disney/Marvel would be at those doors knocking nonstop, if they aren't already.

As far as how Marvel would handle the character, don't we all remember Just Imagine from Stan Lee and DC?
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 4/13/2011, 12:34 PM
@ Darkmatter- If Supes becomes a freeagent I hope he ends up playing for The Braves. His batting average would be a ton!
Coldblood6
Coldblood6 - 4/13/2011, 12:39 PM
@ soberchimera61

Dude, it's a matter of taste. Not saying he's a bad character but to some, myself included, he's "been there..done that" and uninteresting. Some DC fans even think that DC can't do anything with him and there was an article here suggesting that Marvel should acquire the character. However I'm happy for you that you find him interesting.


@ Darkmatter

True! However info by JWStubner above suggests that this is not actually that. What I'm saying though is that the money spent on that I would rather they use to re-acquire the film rights to Marvel characters.
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 4/13/2011, 12:39 PM
Damn! That means the Yankees will get him. Crap...
AC1
AC1 - 4/13/2011, 12:45 PM
I can't believe how selfish ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED are being! DC need to show the families some recognition and should pay them something since their fathers DID basically make DC what it is today. But the Siegels and Schusters shouldn't have the right to basically steal Superman from DC, once you create a figure like Superman, a legend, an icon, you cease to own him, he belongs to everyone, and the greed of the families of the creators of this legend is disgusting; they'd be willing to screw over every single fan Superman has ever had, every single fan that was loyal to that character, simply to line their own pockets. It's appalling, Siegel and Schuster would be disgusted!
And the idea of Superman going to Marvel is terrifying, Superman belongs with DC, as the leader of the Justice League, as one of the World's Finest along with Batman, not a member of the Avengers, fighting crime with Spider-Man!
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 4/13/2011, 12:50 PM
I believe they deserve some money, but let's be real. These people don't care about the character. They're just trying to milk it for all it's worth.
EdGross
EdGross - 4/13/2011, 12:51 PM
In the end, the odds are that some sort of parity agreement will be reached between Warner Bros. and the Siegel/Shuster estates. They will likely work it out.

But if not and Warners is able to continue Superman but not utilize certain aspects of his origin, rebooting is actually a smart idea. They'll get the whole origin out of the way and will not need to deal with it again in future movies, but Man of Steel will still be there for people to reference for background. Actually a clever way to go.
Hannibal_King
Hannibal_King - 4/13/2011, 12:58 PM
The Judge seems a little one-sided in this article.
I wonder why.
Supersonicboobs
Supersonicboobs - 4/13/2011, 1:00 PM
My "Head" hurts ..... i guess i'll have to get Diane lane to fix it!

I agree with darkMatter ....LETS TAKE A DRINK!!!!

people in this world are so messed up for money!!!
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/13/2011, 1:00 PM
@ darkmatter

if marvel got the rights to superman they would do one of three things.

1.they would shelve him,just like miracle man for years.

2.have everyone beat him from ant-man - squirrel girl.

3.have him join the avengers
AC1
AC1 - 4/13/2011, 1:01 PM
@Hannibal cos he's a douche?
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