Its also possible the delay is because Judge Winter was the judge writing the decision (one judge usually writes the long decision and the others concur or dissent.). The simple answer is timing. None of the other films are part of the suit." Friday the 13th producer Sean Cunningham has filed another lawsuit related to the series, this time against Warner Bros. and . Further, he alleges that Paramount and Warner Bros redacted the license agreements preventing him from getting a clear picture of the flow of money, stating they withheld documents would reveal that the Picturess distribution was structured to inequitably advance the interest of Defendants (the studios) and favored third parties.. Friday the 13th: The Game has left a lot of people wondering how the game was able to launch but downloadable add-ons were halted. With all of that fantastic IP, I still cant help but feel a longing for our two best babes, Freddy and Jason. Especially for fans who thought the brand was dead in the water. In July, franchise star Corey Feldman said that he had heard from a lawyer, who claimed to have resolved the rights issues. This issue hasnt been brought up in the case just yet, but the value of a franchise changes over time; while things are tied up in courts, a franchise owner could be losing possible value. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Do you want these greedy men to get over with this petty case, or do you prefer having Jason Voorhees safely isolated at the bottom of Crystal Lake? RELATED:Michael Myers is Here to Slay in New Halloween Kills Images. In this mysterious adventure, a doctor (Dawson) and her 9-year-old son (Chase Dillon), looking to start a new life, move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans, only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for. What risks are associated with another Jason movie? Lakers star James isnt the only heavy hitter to salivate over the prospect of a new Friday the 13th. Horror icon Stephen King dangled his own wish to write a new story from the perspective of Jason Voorhees himself. A key element in the game that separates it from Mortal Kombat is the ownership of Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask clad slasher. As fans know, the property has unfortunately been the focus of a number of lawsuits between Sean Cunningham and Victor Miller. It's likely Cunningham will appeal, but for the time being, the rights are set to revert to Cunningham. According to New Lines accounting, The Lord of the Rings trilogy made no profits. The Friday the 13th horror film franchise has been in an interesting situation throughout the last few years. According to a complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior . Disneys new live actionHaunted Mansion movie will be releasing in theaters on July 28, 2023, and weve been promised that the official trailer debuts tomorrow, March 2nd. With the courts decision, Miller has won the rights to Part I only, and Jason remains a confusing entity. The best novel idea I never wrote (and probably never will) is I JASON, King tweeted in June 2020. The Friday the 13th franchise launched in 1980 with Sean S. Cunningham's titular slasher film, spawning ten sequels and one remake, which collectively grossed over $460 million at the global box office. Jeremy became an editor and lead writer for Horror Geek Life in 2018, and also currently contributes to MovieWeb and TVWeb. Another thanks to our pal, Larry Zerner, who pointed out that this would only come into effect 35 years after the original 1986 sale (in 2021). On opposing sides of the conflict are Friday the 13ths producer and director of the 1980 film Sean S. Cunningham, who also represents a group of investors, and Victor Miller, the first films screenwriter who has fought for control of his script after the copyright expired. Consider joining here! Now, LeBron's partner in the Friday the 13th reboot, Vertigo Entertainment founder Roy Lee, shares an exclusive update with the Bloody Disgusting podcast The Boo Crew that should excite fans. Why Fear Street Made A Friday the 13th Remake Harder. End of content No future content Skull Objectives Unlock 30 new emotes Update Status First Look: Engine Update XP, CP, & Tape Event Happy Friday the 13th Campers View all news Patches 8.9.19 Patch Notes 7.30.19 Patch Notes 5.7.19 Patch Notes View all patches REPORT BUG Check out the long list of changes in the patch notes below. End of content No future content Skull Objectives Unlock 30 new emotes Update Status First Look: Engine Update XP, CP, & Tape Event Happy Friday the 13th Campers Introducing Victoria New Counselor Offline Bot AI Improvements More realistic AI Welcome to the Salt Mines There is still the ability to appeal to the Supreme Court, though scholars dont think it will be certified and heard. Has four awesome cats. On January 29, 2021, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Cunningham has launched a lawsuit against Paramount and Warner Bros over the net profits of the Friday the 13th series. Everyone involved agrees there are still millions more sitting on the table should Jason wield a machete once again on film, television or video game especially after a massively successful reboot of the Halloween franchise. That accessory would go on to define the killers film legacy and play a key part in the case Zerner is now following. Although details regarding that project were also vague, it seemed to be in production at Lees and Doug Davisons Vertigo Entertainment. Horror fans are historically fickle about reboots, and the involvement of a celebrity like James and his Springhill Entertainment is another source of criticism. 2022: Chad accepts a buyout from Logan Paul paying in Dink Doink, divests his penknives as part of the merger, only to realize too late that it's a scam and he's immediately shift-killed by Jake Paul playing as Jason. A court sided with Miller, but in interviews with CNN, Cunningham and Millers attorney reveal why Jason may not have hacked his way out of court just yet. Furthermore, LeBron James would have been involved with his SpringHill Entertainment. It wasnt a shock when LeBron James showed up to a Lakers game on Halloween 2018 dressed as Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th horror films. It's 4 pm and I still don't see a cert petition filed with the Supreme Court in the Friday the 13th case. If the speculation is true, it means that Lee and James will be producing a Friday the 13th project very soon, whether that be the reboot discussed in 2018 or something else entirely. Posted: Oct 1, 2021 6:41 am. As this will be a precedent-setting case, its safe to assume other studios and copyright owners have interest in the outcome, and will want this to be decided by the Supreme Court. In 53 years, itll be in the public domain, then anyone can make the movie, he said with a laugh. As far as these projects go, they will be free and clear if they drop before December 2021, a potential challenge given the ongoing production delays as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. We can license television series, exploring Crystal Lake and how Jason became who he is think Twin Peaks or Bates Motel, Toberoff said. Makes no sense, Toberoff said. While some moviegoers may have forgotten about Jason Voorhees' dominance on the silver screen, horror fans are painfully aware of the 13 years the iconic slasher has been missing from theaters. What about other popular horror franchises? At the time of that films release, interest in The Room was at its highest, and since Wiseaus case delayed the release of the documentary, the filmmakers had a case against Wiseau for what they lost. Tommy Wiseau sued the filmmakers of said documentary, tying the documentary up in court, killing their 2017 release date. Posted: Nov 3, 2020 8:53 am. As it stands, the courts have not decided on Jason Voorhees as we know him, so an isolated and alienated Voorhees could exist with no backstory on his own, like he might in a Mortal Kombat game. Friday the 13th LAWSUIT UPDATE | NO Supreme Court! Friday the 13th lawsuit has now ended marking Victor Miller the winner for the rights of the first Friday The 13th movie. There hasn't been a Friday the 13th film since 2009, and one big reason for Jason's continued absence is a lawsuit concerning rights to the franchise. To decide if someone was an employee, the courts analyze whether work completed was work for hire, meaning, while it was maybe completed by an independent contractor, it was directly commissioned in a way that created an employee like relationship. James Gunn Reveals New Superman, Batman Movies and More, Friday the 13th: Long-Running Lawsuit Finally Earns a Legal Resolution, Renfield Star Nicolas Cage Is Already Hoping to Play His Dracula Again, Scream VI: The Most Ruthless Ghostface Featurette Released, First Return to Silent Hill Synopsis, Casting Details Leak, Mayfair Witches: Michelle Ashford on Ciprien's Surprising Journey (Exclusive), Ricou Browning, Star of Creature From the Black Lagoon, Dies at 93, Fatal Attraction Reboot Trailer Teaser Released, King on Screen Documentary to Explore Stephen King Cinematic Adaptations, Dead Ringers Reboot TV Series From Prime Video Gets First Teaser. There might have been risk in targeting the studio while the rights to make more Friday the 13th media were still in hand. The 1980s were a golden age for slasher movies, and one of the poster boys of this movement was Jason Voorhees, who took over the family business of killing teens at Camp Crystal Lake from his mother Pamela after she lost her head. Its designed to give some of the heirs a bite of the apple to share in that extended term, Aaron Moss, an entertainment lawyer who writes the blog Copyright Lately, told CNN. Similar suits were launched for Harry Potter, Fahrenheit 9/11 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Especially if its something he would love to talk about. It definitely looks like a good sign for fans. This is Getting Ridiculous. Friday the 13th lawsuit update: Sean S. Cunningham says odds of a new movie being . The court made a summary judgment that the facts were not in dispute, then applied the law, deciding in favor of Miller. Those who know (sorry, Casey Becker, but you dont know) understand that Jason Voorhees, the undead giant, didnt exist until Part II, and the hockey mask wearing zombie adjacent penultimate version of the slasher didnt come to be until Part III. 2021 would be nice, but Im not counting on that. This was a Canadian case and not exactly applicable here, but the takeaway is that the filmmakers intended to release their documentary at the same time as James Francos The Room drama, The Disaster Artist. Then comes the question of the mask, Toberoff adds. Miller took advantage of a provision of U.S. And if it was an adult Jason without a hockey mask, I cant imagine they would be very successful, he added. That he is notable for his successful battles for high profile character ownership suggests Toberoff foresees success with Hellraiser, and presumably, other franchises. Miller has to convince a studio to make this thing that can only be distributed in the U.S., said Zerner. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Friday the 13thwriter Victor Miller in his lawsuit against the film's director and producer, Sean Cunningham. He is referring to a final scene where a young Jason leaps from the lake to attack the heroine. At the moment, it sounds like the public won't know anything until closer to the end of 2022. The timing of termination -- in 2017 -- was likely in part due to rumored movement on a sequel and in part because Miller only had a five-year window, from 2014 until 2019, to file. The film producer recently participated in an interview with The Boo Crew Podcast via Bloody-Disgusting. Friday The 13th Reboot Movie Gets Hopeful Update Amid Legal Battles By Bart Woinski Published Aug 8, 2022 Vertigo Entertainment founder Roy Lee teases that exciting news about the Friday the 13th franchise could arrive soon despite the legal stalemate. As such, it looks like whatever Friday the 13th news Roy Lee is referring to, we should be hearing about it by the end of this year. Larry Zerner has stated on Twitter: The lawsuit ONLY concerns profits of the 2009 F13 Reboot. Update Status Hello Friday the 13th: The Game players and fans, As many of you are aware, we have been targeting an April release for the next major update to Friday the 13th: The Game since our announcement that the game would be moving to an updated version of the Unreal game engine. My feeling is theres a lot of bad blood between both sides, said Larry Zerner, an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles. The US and Canada do differ a bit here, but the argument for diminishing value can apply. The lawsuit ONLY concerns profits of the 2009 F13 Reboot. Sean is represented by Johnson & Johnson, a very experienced Beverly Hills law firm handling these sort of Hollywood accounting cases. Within the next couple years a number of iconic Hollywood movies could wind up in court, Moss said. The court concluded that Miller completed the Friday the 13th script for Cunningham as a contract worker. Before Pamela Voorhees and a version of Jason that might have been an apparition graced our silver screens, writers and studios . Unable to reach an agreement, director Sean Cunningham filed a lawsuit to deem the termination invalid. At this point, while the parties have yet to decide on how to split the rights, it would be risky to create any Friday the 13th franchise media that could lean on any lore from the first film. Meanwhile, weve learned via The Hollywood Reporter that a whole nother Friday the 13th legal battle is underway, with Sean Cunningham now going after WB and Paramount. Often, cast and crew have contracts with the studio that include payment in the form of a percentage of the films profits. This is all speculative, but Cunningham knows his legal rights to the franchises future are in limbo. Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Editions Pre Orders Available Now! With franchises in Hollywood, that's essentially an eternity. My presumption is this will all come down to a split or licensing fees. This could either mean further delay in getting more media, or it might have been a strategic move on Cunninghams part to exploit the existing delay to get this matter heard. But James was more than a fan. Fans just want another movie at this point, but its starting to feel like poor Jason is never going to get out of the courtroom. Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, andHasan Minhajwill also appear in the new movie. Reboot Finally Happening !? This was heard before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on February 13th, 2020 and the decision was released on September 30th, 2021. If its been a while, check out the trailer and synopsis for 2009s Friday the 13th below. I doubt it.. Are you a Friday the 13th Fan? Especially considering. The assumption is that now that the issue of the Part I script is decided (subject to any appeals to the Supreme Court), Miller and Cunningham will drill down into the franchise rights on their own and find a fair split. Do you even need the mask?. I really hope this gets resolved soon. Clive Barker is being represented by Marc Toberoff, a lawyer most known for representing Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster in the ongoing fight for ownership of Superman. Jeryline Bascombe: Demon Knight, Final Girl, and Savior of the World [Matriarchy Rising], HARD:LINE Film Festival Announces Its 2023 Short Film Line-Up, Five Directors Who Should Make The Next A Nightmare On Elm Street. Updated Over the weekend, we got some clarification on Cunninghams new lawsuit from our favorite Friday-alumn-turned-lawyer Larry Zerner (the actor who played the loveable loser Shelley inFriday the 13th: Part III). Last month, Clive Barker, writer of the original Hellraiser, sued for a declaratory judgment that he can terminate his copyright transfer and regain the franchise. Before he became a lawyer, Zerner was a victim of Jason Voorhees. As far as this speaks to delay, its possible the studio and/ or Cunningham might not engage in any more licensing deals for the Friday the 13th rights. What does the new Cunningham and Paramount/Warner Bros. suit mean? Licensing agreements vary, but we can assume this one granted Cunningham a percentage of profits, which he is alleging were fudged by their accounting resulting in him getting paid less than he feels he was entitled. Its been a stressful few years forFriday the 13th fans, to say the least. For those of us who prefer legal dramas to slasher flicks, this could be a riveting battle of oral arguments, briefs, precedents, amici, and maybe an en banc. Heres background: https://t.co/ujT1NAqqGo pic.twitter.com/b7eQstMToX. But the rotting cabins of an abandoned summer camp are not the only things he finds. Additionally, camp counsellors across the lake might be out of luck. In 2019, Wes Cravens estate quietly took back the rights to Nightmare on Elm Street. Lastly, how do you feel about all this? According to entertainment lawyer and Friday the 13th Part 3 star Larry Zerner, original screenwriter Victor Miller stands victorious. 2022 Certified Forgotten. Justin Simien(Dear White People, Bad Hair) is directing the new live action adaptation of the popular, long-running Disney theme park attraction thats home to 999 haunts. This suit is completely separate from the one between Cunningham and Miller, though elements of them could end up related. Cunningham submitted to the court that Miller was, in fact, an employee at the time of the writing of the script, and therefore, never owned the copyright in the first place. 0. Behind every cry for an update to Friday the 13th: The Game from Stephen Kings hellish book idea to every scream for another Voorhees reboot is a complicated legal battle for Voorhees ownership that could go all the way to the Supreme Court. I think for sure it will come back, Cunningham said. The slasher boom of the late 1970s and 1980s is blowing through the 35-year mark. This will likely come down to risk and leverage. Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Editions Pre Orders Available Now! Crystal Lake Reunion Friday the 13th Franchise Stars Reuniting at Original Movies Filming Location! Friday the 13th lawsuit update In the most recent update on the lawsuit, The Hollywood Reporter shares that the 2nd U.S. Hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees lies in wait for a chance to use his razor-sharp machete on Clay and the group of college students who have come to the forest to party. Did you encounter any technical issues? Zerner took to Twitter to share that the battle is effectively over, and that the official rights holder to the franchise is allegedly Victor Miller (in the USA). For the latest on that whole matter, click here to brush up on the case. This post on the Friday the 13th lawsuit was updated on October 2, 2021, to reflect the current status of the Horror Inc. v Miller case. Now Feldman has given an interview with MovieWeb claiming that the . | Friday the 13th Lawsuit Update + New Release - YouTube 0:00 / 7:37 #slashncast This is Getting Ridiculous. Sean made millions of dollars, Zerner said. You can also check out her podcast, The Pod and The Pendulum, at your usual podcast spots and find The Smash List on YouTube for tech reviews. What does this mean? Fans could warm up to the reboot idea if Lee's news results in something tangible, and after 13 long years without Jason Voorhees, they may not have much room to lament a new project of any kind. The riveting audio is available here thanks, Larry Zerner and you can get a really exciting peek into the world of appellate litigation, otherwise known as the terrifying exercise of meticulously preparing perfect oral arguments but then getting interrupted by the judges until you run out of time. If a movie shows no or low profits, these payouts can be minimal or non-existent. The Friday the 13th legal war seems to have reached a finale. As King James was conquering the court, Jason Voorhees was stuck in one, the subject of a legal battle that has left the horror franchise in limbo. As it stands, it would be risky to proceed with any media as the battle for Jason rages on, and should Jason remain with Cunningham, hed have to produce only media that doesnt reference any lore from Part I. Copyright Law to reclaim the rights to his work after 35 years from original director Sean S. Cunningham, and he successfully won the case and subsequent appeals. Hope arrived in 2018 when LeBron James showed interest in a reboot, but the project never took off due to the ongoing lawsuit. Cunninghams argument, if successful, would raise a lot of issues with WGA protection of writers. Hollywood producer Roy Lee excitedly teases that news regarding the Friday the 13th franchise could be coming soon. He uses Twitter to update fans on the latest in the dispute between the screenwriter and the original producer, but hes more than just an observer. Though, since these two litigious fellas seem to be pushing towards the Supreme Court after four years of not reaching a settlement, its possible theyll drag that piece of the puzzle on. According to a complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the studios distributing the films have systematically misaccounted contingent compensation., The report continues, TheFriday the 13th franchise has grossed more than $129 million, according to the complaint, but Cunningham says audits revealed theres been improper deductions of fees and bonuses, undervalued licenses, an underreporting of merchandizing revenue and pay TV income, and on and on.