An interesting article over at Deadline breaks down a nasty legal dispute that has been percolating for some time over the "Dungeons & Dragons" film rights. The 7-day trial wrapped late Tuesday in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.
The contention here is between Sweetpea Entertainment, which has owned the "D&D" film rights since 1994, and toy-giant Hasbro, who has owned overall "D&D" property since 1999 when it acquired Wizards of the Coast. Sweetpea owner/director/producer Courtney Solomon has made three subpar films as owner of the license: 2000's "Dungeons & Dragons," 2005's "D&D: Wrath of the Dragon God," and 2010's "D&D: Book of Vile Darkness." Only the 2000 film saw a theatrical release; the other two went straight to DVD and/or cable.
Although the names don't appear in any of the claims and counterclaims, this trial is really a "shadow war" between Warner Bros. and Universal over which studio will make the next "D&D" movie. Not long before this trial began, Warner Bros. purchased Sweetpea's rights to "D&D" films for approximately $5 million. Universal, on the other hand, has a "deal" in place with Hasbro to make a "D&D" movie of its own.
"Hasbro has a right to begin to make movies of its own based on the property," argued Hasbro lawyer Jeremy Goldman in his closing before Judge Dolly Gee. "Mr. Solomon had his shot with 'Dungeons & Dragons'...he held on to the rights for over 20 years. It should come as no surprise to Mr. Solomon that his campaign to hold on to the 'Dungeon & Dragons' rights is over. They should return home to Hasbro," he added.
"Hasbro cannot have it both ways," Sweetpea attorney Patricia Glaser said in her closing statement. "Sweetpea has a 'tentpole opportunity' with Warner Bros., and only Sweetpea, not Hasbro, has the right to make a movie with 'Dungeons & Dragons' as its primary title," Glaser concluded.
"The rights between the two parties are complicated," Judge Gee said after both sides gave closing statements. She urged both parties to come up with an agreement instead of waiting for a decision from her. "There are two possible outcomes for a trial," she advised. "One side wins, one side loses, or both sides are unhappy."
This issue is clearly not resolved, and both sides could be waiting quite some time before there is any kind of true resolution. Check back to HNGN.com for more on this story at a later date.
