I hope TRT still comes out this October, I cant wait for it, but it would have been nice for Halloween to sneak into October.

Basically MGM wants a TRANSFORMERS level budget film (or a bit less depending on how much marketing winds up being, presuming a 150 million production budget, 50 million for advertising) vs the 200 million that TERMINATOR 3 was with AHNULD's megasalary (before advertising) and presumably T asset wants 200 million and not to give up as much creative control.

I would imagine T asset's thought process is they undeniably paid a premium for the rights and want to recoup it before anyone else gets their share.

That said I think T asset is on crack if they think they can get a better deal without Schwarzenegger involved.




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'T4': Rise of the lawsuit
By Gregg Kilday

July 19, 2007
Following a breakdown in negotiations over the distribution of "Terminator 4," the movie's producers filed a complaint for declaratory relief Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking an injunction against MGM.

The T Asset Acquisition Co. -- representing producer Moritz Borman and Halcyon Co. principals Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson, who acquired rights to the "Terminator" franchise this year -- contended in the filing that MGM did not negotiate in good faith when the two parties sat down in June to hammer out a distribution deal for the movie, which MGM would like to release in 2009.

MGM maintains that it acquired first rights in the 1990s for an exclusive, 30-day negotiation for distribution rights to the films in the franchise. Although T Asset, the company formed to produce the movie, challenges that contention, it says that Borman and MGM COO Rick Sands first met for lunch on May 31 at Houston's in Century City to begin to discuss a deal.

T Asset alleges that MGM made an initial offer of $200 million in production and marketing commitments, but because MGM also insisted on approval for director, star, screenplay and budget as well as a lower backend participation for the producers, T Asset said the proposal fell short.

Because T Asset hadn't allowed MGM to read the screenplay and hadn't revealed who would direct and star in the film -- which will not involve original star Arnold Schwarzenegger -- MGM suspended negotiations, awaiting a counterproposal.

On June 26, T Asset notified MGM that MGM's negotiating window would close as of June 29. MGM's attorneys responded with a June 28 letter accusing T Asset of making an unreasonable "take-it-or-leave-it demand," saying that the negotiating window remained open and that T Asset could not talk with other distributors.

Claiming that MGM is trying to "disrupt and prevent any efforts by T Asset to negotiate with any third parties," T Asset is asking the court for a permanent injunction against MGM, to declare MGM's first negotiation rights unenforceable and to prohibit MGM from interfering with T Assets' negotiations with other parties.

"MGM is completely comfortable with its rights position on the 'Terminator' franchise, and we will not allow anyone to interfere with our rights," MGM spokesman Jeff Pryor said.

Terminator' locked in rights standoff
MGM sued over distribution rights
By JANET SHPRINTZ
The holders of the rights to "Terminator 4" have sued MGM, claiming the studio is interfering with their right to negotiate for the distribution of the planned fourth installment of the highly successful series. Halcyon Co. and its principals, Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson, acquired rights in May, including sequel rights to "Terminator 2" and "Terminator 3" and a script by "T3" writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, with plans to launch a big-budget sequel.

According to the complaint, filed in L.A. Superior Court on Wednesday, MGM claimed it had acquired an exclusive 30-day negotiation window for "T4" in the 1990s Orion Pictures bankruptcy. T Asset, the plaintiff and Halcyon's subsidiary, did not concede MGM's rights but began negotiations in May over distribution. T Asset claims MGM's exclusive window is now over despite MGM's claims in the media that it has the right to distribute "T4." The suit seeks a declaration and injunctive relief.

As outlined in the complaint, producer Moritz Borman began negotiations with MGM chief operating officer Rick Sands on May 31. The deal proposed by MGM for worldwide distribution included a commitment of almost $200 million and gave MGM approval over budget, script, director and male lead. It also included a lower backend participation to T Asset. With the 30-day period running out, the two sides could not make a deal.

According to the complaint, MGM then claimed T Asset was required to continue negotiations and that it would prevent T Asset from negotiating with other studios. Also at issue is T Asset's refusal to allow MGM to review the confidential screenplay. According to correspondence attached to the complaint, MGM claims that T Asset has taken an unfair "take it or leave it" position in the negotiations. MGM appears to take the position that "T4" cannot have the same deal as "T3" without Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role.

Commenting on the litigation, an MGM spokesman said, "MGM is completely comfortable with its rights position on the 'Terminator' franchise, and we will not allow anyone to interfere with our rights."

a terminator without arold.....no....itll ruin the series name!

Movie Title Dist. New Date Old Date
Margot at the Wedding Paramount Vantage 11/16/07 10/19/07
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Lionsgate 10/12/07 11/16/07
Eagle Eye Paramount (DreamWorks) 10/10/08 New
Baby Mama Universal 4/18/08 New


Weird move for Why Did I Get Married, perhaps Lionsgate is moving something else into November?

Eagle Eye is a weird date to claim this far out.

Knowing fox; their gonna put it in May.

fox is a cocky studio...i could see them putting this on say; JULY 25TH thinking itd own but tdk woudl just kill it...

Ill say they go with August 16th.

Considering Fox does not have a start date, cast or anyone except a director/writer for THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL my belief is that TDESS is firmly in development hell and not happening for Summer 2008.

That said I think they should open Wolverine December 12th or TDESS. No matter how loved a character Wolverine is, if it opens 8/8/8 it will be the fourth comic book movie in the same season and people are going to be absolutely sick of superheros if all of them stick in Summer 2008.

Totally agree - said as much in the Wolverine thread in the Cinemania forum. December would be ideal. May wouldnt be good considering Iron Man comes out before it and then the Narnia/Indy combo would kill it. If the 08 schedule can be shake up a little - the Rat/Die Hard late June weekend would be ideal - seeing that its 2nd weekend could be strong as Hancock is no Transformers.

Fox needs some tentpole movie that does over 150 million and only Wolverine has the potential to do that. Plus winter is sort of an unproven ground for comic book movies since they usually strive on big openings and Wolverine would be the second to bat for comic book movies in summer so if any comic book movies that will get hurt slightly would be the Hulk and TDK

Fox should cancel Starship Dave and postpone TDTESS. I would rather have them concentrate on Wolverine and X-files 2. Give X-files 2 some sort of Simpsons/Die Hard marketting to bring back old fans of the series so that they could have a decent hit on their hands

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/9398

Skinwalkers has been pushed back to August 10th, and I'm guessing we'll see it bumped back again to the 12th of never any time now.

Pink Panther 2 - 2/13/09
Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage - 11/30/07 (from 12/14/07)
Southland Tales - 11/9/07
Charlie Bartlett - TBA (from 8/3/07)
The Last Legion - 8/17/07 (from 8/24/07)

Surprised with the Charlie Bartlett move - it was being advertised a lot last night on USA during Monday Night Raw. I was looking forward to it too.

Should be made public this weekend, not at liberty to say what it is other than it is not Wolverine and does not
involve any of the May releases.

Really?!!

So none of the MAY release dates for big movies are gonna change?

That sucks because it is the month that needs some bigtime shuffling.

Speed Racer, TDTESS, starship dave should all move to other dates at the end of july or august.

One of them should move to december like starship dave which could be a family comedy movie like NATM.

Could be Mama Mia moving away from Dark Knight...

hehe thanks. I always thought the 08 schedule is far from finalised. I have a feeling its to do with The Dark Knight and or John Hancock. OR something big will slot into June.

If the hulk moves back a week, itll open on the same date the first did.

Wow unexpected even though it was rather obvious to everyone.



and is it really called HBII?

Good move for The Mummy, but giving HB II (first of all, awful title) such a spot? Pirates and Potter held that weekend and now HB II? It'll barely top $30m opening weekend (if it all).

LOL i think Mama Mia should stick there. I want to see how that musical does against TDK. I know a lot TDK fans and excel are worried that TDK might not get 100 million OW if Mama Mia releases against it.

hahahaha awesome. They switched the release dates.

So now Mummy 3 comes out in august and will probably get the biggest marketing push from all august releases. I can see it doing 45-55 million OW.

HB II will be a good movie but will not make back its budget. For the first time hollywood has made a sequel to a movie that flopped at BO. Maybe Universal thinks HB II will be really kick ass or awesome and could get a good OW and make $100+ million domestically. Seriously TDK will destory it. My only concern now is that there will be 3 superhero or comic book movies back to back.

John Hancock
HB II
TDK

Mummy will disappoint. I cant see it doing all too well really. You know they jumped the shark when they start dabbling with egyptian folk lore blending it with asianic climate.

Yep it has potential but u gotta remember that mummy 2 left bad taste in a lot of peoples mouth. I loved it though.

Dont forget Wolverine if it does come out during summer. Most likely it will considering the Day the Earth Stood still is still in development hell and Starship DAve looks like it will be Pluto Nash

Kung-fu in a Safari adventure movie. They arent even in Mummy territory now. It will be like having a Batman movie taking place in New York City.