Variety writes that a Delaware bankruptcy judge has given Warren Beatty the go-ahead for a lawsuit against Tribune Co. to retain the TV and movie rights to the Dick Tracy character. Beatty directed the 1990 movie Dick Tracy, which was adapted from Tribune's comic.
Apparently, Tribune Co. gave Beatty an ultimatum in November 2006, saying that if he did not begin production on a new Dick Tracy project within two years, the company would take back the rights. In November 2008, Beatty claims he informed Tribune that production had begun on a Tracy TV project, but Tribune denies that Beatty gave such notice.
The judge ruled in Beatty's favor after Beatty produced evidence that the judge called "sufficient, under the circumstances, to support a slight showing of the probability of success on the merits." Beatty had tried to get the lawsuit underway a year ago, but Tribune's recent bankruptcy slowed the process down.
Posted 11.11.09 by reelz