We can license television series, exploring Crystal Lake and how Jason became who he is think Twin Peaks or Bates Motel, Toberoff said. Presumably, the studio will push for a Supreme Court hearing, or will otherwise work to negotiate some sort of rights split. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Let me know on Twitter via @joshkorngut. Still, he doesn't implicitly own derivative works or spinoff characters, so the adult version of Jason Voorhees who stalked teenagers for decades after the original would not be included in the ruling, but "Jason Voorhees" as a character does, provided he was reinvented sufficiently differently. Obviously this didnt happen due to the various rights issues but perhaps those were cleared up. With other franchise shakeups, like the recent filing to reclaim Hellraiser, horror fans have lots of questions as to the fate of their beloved long-running franchises, ones this article will endeavor to answer. 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. Bart Woinski is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker from Metro Detroit. None of the other films are part of the suit.. 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. Miller may control the script and characters from the original movie, but not the title Friday the 13th, nor the content from sequels which includes the adult Jason and the iconic hockey mask that has defined him since Part III. Speaking of dreams, this means all your fan theories about Friday the 13th canon and whether that is, in fact, Jason in the water at the end of Part I actually matter now, LEGALLY. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Friday the 13th writer Victor Miller in his lawsuit against the film's director . It also now includes information on the 2021 Cunningham v Paramount lawsuit. 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? Miller is represented by Marc Toberoff, who previously represented the heirs to Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel when they tried to terminate the copyright transfer for the Man of Steel. In 1982s Friday the 13th Part III, he plays a prankster named Shelly who, along with his friends, are attacked by Jason in cabins on Crystal Lake. 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. By Russ Burlingame Miller is seeking to terminate the copyright transfer of the original film's screenplay, which Cunningham had claimed was written as a work made for hire, and not eligible for a termination notice. 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. I think for sure it will come back, Cunningham said. This was heard before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on February 13th, 2020 and the decision was released on September 30th, 2021. Larry Zerner has stated on Twitter: " The lawsuit ONLY concerns profits of the 2009 F13 Reboot. 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. Putting aside the issue of whether Victor is legally able to terminate the agreement, the remaining issues are very complicated 1/. They could all be reverting to their original owners. 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. Vertigo Entertainment founder Roy Lee teases that exciting news about the Friday the 13th franchise could arrive soon despite the legal stalemate. Then comes the question of the mask, Toberoff adds. Before he became a lawyer, Zerner was a victim of Jason Voorhees. Before Pamela Voorhees and a version of Jason that might have been an apparition graced our silver screens, writers and studios . According to a complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior . Cunningham also alleges that the defendants withheld documents would reveal that the Pictures distribution was structured to inequitably advance the interest of Defendants and favored third parties.. With this in mind, a potential new Miller-produced Friday the 13th movie would . But Cunningham also knows that his success or failure could result in precedent-setting cases that will shake up the ownership of lots of copyright, so theres more skin in the game than just what Pamela Voorhees has peeled off. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. After an appeals court upheld a lower court ruling in September, Miller, the screenwriter, was awarded the copyright for the script and characters associated with the original Friday the 13th film. He has also contributed to many other online publications over the past several years, including Dread Central, FanSided, Netflix Life, Undead Walking, and Redshirts Always Die. And, although he couldnt reveal any specific details, his response is still quite exciting. Will 2022 finally be the years where Mom and Dad get officially launched back into their own productions? While you wait, check out the trippy official poster for Haunted Mansion below! 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. Miller now owns the copyright to his screenplay, including sequel rights, but Jason cant be portrayed as any older than in the first movie? Until a final decision is made, no more movies will be produced. Posted: Oct 1, 2021 6:41 am. If a movie shows no or low profits, these payouts can be minimal or non-existent. 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. Presumably, Cunningham will grip every remaining facet of the franchise he still holds onto. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? Lastly, how do you feel about all this? Well continue bringing you updates as information becomes available, so stay tuned and check back often! Without divulging anything substantial, Lee hints that news regarding the iconic slasher franchise could be coming by the end of the year. That said, if he is passionate about the precedent setting cases in which hes engaged, he might be motivated to take this one all the way to the finish line. It also now includes information on the 2021 Cunningham v Paramount lawsuit. Jeremy became an editor and lead writer for Horror Geek Life in 2018, and also currently contributes to MovieWeb and TVWeb. If a deal isnt reached, Zerner offers one last resort. There is still the ability to appeal to the Supreme Court, though scholars dont think it will be certified and heard. Copyright 2023 ComicBook.com. Jason was very much a presence in Millers film. You are only able to argue that the initial trial judge made an error of law, and present your position that, but for the error, the case would be decided differently. As of April 2020, Spyglass Media Group is developing a Hellraiser reboot with director David Bruckner and writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. HBO is also developing a television series with David Gordon Green and Danny McBride (among others) who were key players in the very successful Halloween reboot. 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. Films like Robocop, Beetlejuice and Ace Ventura.. Friday The 13th Reboot Movie Gets Hopeful Update Amid Legal Battles, lawsuit filed by screenwriter Victor Miller. There was a long delay in getting this decision and there are a few possibilities as to why. Jason appeared in a 2015 DLC of Mortal Kombat X (before the notice of termination) and has not yet appeared in Mortal Kombat 11, raising lots of questions as to whether the legal battle would kill the possibility. Although details regarding that project were also vague, it seemed to be in production at Lees and Doug Davisons Vertigo Entertainment. A key element in the game that separates it from Mortal Kombat is the ownership of Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask clad slasher. 0. 1/. Cunningham claims that the screenplay was written as a work made for hire, and that as a result, his production company is legally considered to be the original author (this is the reason Marvel and DC always win these cases against comic book creators). Cunningham would have licensed the Friday the 13th rights (as they existed at the time of the remake) to the studios for the 2009 film. 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. NOES has already been clawed back, but what about the rest of the slasher villains sitting in the wings itching to be rebooted? Essentially, movies are set up as corporations, and every expense can be counted as against profit. So, they can continue to exist, but not be updated. Famously, Peter Jackson and Wingnut Films sued New Line Cinema, along with actors and Tolkiens estate, for their gross percentage payouts. The 12 Friday the 13th films have grossed a combined worldwide box-office total of $468.24 million dollars and even more off merchandise over the years. Friday the 13th screenwriter Victor Miller will reclaim the domestic rights to the iconic horror franchise after scoring a major legal victory. 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. Hollywood producer Roy Lee excitedly teases that news regarding the Friday the 13th franchise could be coming soon. Camp Crystal Lake, Pamela Voorhees and her perhaps deceased son, and a zombie kid in the water that may or may not have been a dream. Friday the 13th lawsuit update In the most recent update on the lawsuit, The Hollywood Reporter shares that the 2nd U.S. Now we can license a remake, prequel or even sequel motion pictures provided such films do not use any additional copyrightable elements said Marc Toberoff, a Malibu copyright attorney who represents Miller. Supernatural serial killer Jason Voorhees can never truly die, but it's been suggested Friday the 13th' s ongoing creator lawsuit might've killed the series. The employee qualification can be applied differently for different reasons, which is what happened in the Appeals decision. According to The . While it isn't much to go on, Lee's optimism about sharing Friday the 13th updates is good news for longtime viewers that want to see Jason come back to life. Announced by publisher Gun . 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. Friday The 13th officially belongs to Victor Miller. Larry Zerner has stated on Twitter: The lawsuit ONLY concerns profits of the 2009 F13 Reboot. Theyre not going to throw any grenades, but I dont think anyone is going to call for peace talks.. With only a few months left to go, it shouldnt be much longer before we know what this exciting news could be. Desperate for help, they contact a priest (Wilson), who, in turn, enlists the aid of a widowed scientist-turned failed-paranormal expert (Stanfield), a French Quarter psychic (Haddish) and a crotchety historian (DeVito).. 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