The Los Angeles Times reports that a federal judge could not decide on the fate of the WATCHMEN film, produced by Warner Brothers and directed by Zack Snyder (300). 20th Century Fox has sued, claiming they control film rights to the graphic novel. The judge was asked to decide a pre-trail motion that could have settled the matter without a full trial, but:
U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess told lawyers for Fox and Warners that a series of 1990s contracts between Fox and “Watchmen” producer Larry Gordon are so open to interpretation that he could not render a pre-trial judgment for either party, as the lawyers had requested.
Presumably, the matter will now go to trial, which could be difficult to complete before Warmer’s scheduled January 20 release date.