If you didn’t know already, Fox sued Warner Brothers for the rights to the upcoming film Watchmen. The Judge ruled in Fox‘s favor but the film is still set for a march release. WB wants this issue settled.�

Tuesday, Jan. 20 could be D-day in the “Watchmen” dispute. Or rather I-day, when Fox and Warner Bros. have agreed to let Judge Gary A. Feess decide whether to issue an injunction against the film’s release.

But Warners is asking that the hearing be moved up to as early as Monday because “time is critical,” the studio argues in papers filed this week. “Watchmen” is scheduled for a March 6 bow, and Warners must soon commit to tens of millions of dollars in marketing for a film it isn’t sure it can release.

The injunction fight stems from Feess’ Christmas Eve preliminary ruling that Fox has a right to distribute the Zack Snyder adaptation of the popular graphic novel. Feess found that producer Lawrence Gordon failed to acquire Fox’s entire interest in “Watchmen,” thereby leaving Fox with rights under a 1994 turnaround agreement.

The studios are now battling over the key issue of whether that decision allows Fox to stop the film’s release or whether the parties should proceed to a trial over money damages.

Hopefully this will be settled on monday, the film is sure to be one of the biggest money makers of 2009. That is, if it comes out.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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