At Least the Judge Is Watching Out for the Watchmen

If you killed yourself in despair after reading my article about how Fox’s push for a July trial date in their bid to destroy Warner Bros.’ Watchmen movie (along with all hope and joy) would likely push the movie to 2010…uh…my bad? I hadn’t counted on Judge Gary Feess being a secret nerd?or at least, that’s the only explanation I have for why Frees ordered the trial to begin on January 6th, 2009 (it’s awesome, but even Warner was asking for April). Feess also ordered both Fox and Warner Bros. to get their asses in gear and present all their respective evidence between now and the trial. Sez the Hollywood Reporter:

But U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess said Fox should forgo any attempt to get a preliminary injunction against Warners to stop the release of the film because the issues were far too complex to be resolved on an interim basis, sources said.

Instead, Feess told both sides to build a factual record and start expedited discovery and depositions immediately.

Now, the trial could drag on for a while, but it certainly seems like Frees is trying to get this nonsense settled A.S.A.P., which is cool. But I still wonder if Warner Bros. is going to have to hedge its bets and reshuffle its release calender anyways, postponing Watchmen to a date when it knows it’ll be free and clear (or totally fucked, pending the lawsuit). Yes, this is a very nice development, but that just means it’ll hurt more in the end.