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Film rights split between distributorsPosted by jessia on March 15, 2008 at 9:59 pmAdam Dawtrey from Variety reports that the fate of The Subtle Knife is more complicated than it seems: many of the foreign distributors have the first rights for foreign distribution for any possibly sequels for The Golden Compass. For very good reason, considering the film’s superb overseas performance, Warner Bros. would much rather distribute via Warner Int’l. However, it may not be so simple when the distributors for The Golden Compass in Europe, Asia, and Africa also have first grab for The Subtle Knife.With this predicament, The Golden Compass’ successful overseas performance may not necessarily be the selling point to engage the film franchise for sequels as fans have hoped. Without foreign distribution rights, Warner will not be able to take advantage of profits from overseas screenings. “Warner’s lawyers will doubtless be scouring the fine print of those deals. If the studio does decide that it wants to continue with the franchise — and that’s a big if — it faces a tricky calculation and negotiation over how much of the world it is prepared to give up in order to do so.” Read more. Thanks to skylights for the tip. 
20 Comments:Post your own!Please keep comments on topic - we have a message board for general discussion.
Roy says:
They just want to know if they can still make money out of it. They can’t if the foreign distributers get all the money foor overseas showings. March 15, 2008 11:50 pm | link
mark scoresby says:
What do they mean by foreign distributers?The people who show TGC outside America?I’m confused…………. March 16, 2008 12:19 am | link
Daviddatsme says:
Mark, you sure you don’t understand? Cause if you find an explanation please tell me! March 16, 2008 12:32 am | link
Lucy says:
I hope the studio behind Harry Potter can do The Subtle Knife, if they do it, then the sequel will be great March 16, 2008 1:25 am | link
jessia says:
i’ve edited the news post; i hope that clears it up. basically, warner needs to be able to at least cover its costs and hopefully make a profit from TSK if it’s going to decide to make it. BUT if the foreign distribution rights are all locked up - and remember, it’s outside north american where TGC has been making the most money - they won’t be making as much money on their own (the profits rather going to those distributors) and thus the HDM franchise might not be commercially sustainable enough to produce. but fingers crossed that they work something out… obviously the foreign distributors have every right to first dibs if that’s how the contracts are written (perhaps new line could’ve managed this better, though it’s not necessarily their fault if they didn’t have the int’l distribution infrastructure that bigger studios have) but maybe they’ll give up a little bit in order to ensure that the films can be produced. we’ll keep you updated. March 16, 2008 3:02 am | link
jessia says:
alternatively, if they produce TSK really well, maybe they can depend on domestic profits more. the report is kind of bad news, but i’m reluctant to give up hope yet, since it’s been drawn out so long anyways- it’s obviously a project the film industry cares about and something both the distributors and producers want to get made… if possible. March 16, 2008 3:04 am | link
Aaron says:
If jessia wasn’t clear enough. what this says is that New Line didn’t make money off the over seas profits, independent companies did. Now that Warner owns the rights to the movies they want to keep it to themselves, and not sell to other independent companies like new line did. but the independent companies already own some rights through New Line. So if Warner doesn’t share rights then they cant show it over seas. unfortunately thats where all the money was made. That puts Warner in a bit of a pickle. March 16, 2008 3:19 am | link
Ian says:
I guess that we’ll see soon enough how enthusiastic WB really are, when we see how keen they are to negotiate with the foreign distributors. It’s good to see that heads rolled at New Line because of the way they handled this… March 16, 2008 3:29 am | link
jessia says:
thanks aaron. to continue on that, the “scouring the fine print of those deals” that WB’s lawywers will be doing will probably be to see the degree to which they are legally obligated to fulfill new line’s distribution contracts given that they are no longer new line. likewise, they’ll probably be looking for ways to negotiate with the distributors too, since best case scenario is that the film gets made and everyone gets to make some profit if it’s successful. March 16, 2008 4:26 am | link
Ben/hoobits says:
The thing is, even if New Line had been able to stand on their own two feet and survive as a studio they would have run into this issue anyway. March 16, 2008 5:46 am | link
daemon_light says:
i’m really beginning to think that this means they are really trying to make an effort to make SK… even with this complication, the money opportunity is just to big. They’ll figure it out. March 17, 2008 4:53 am | link
Gabriel says:
Damn it!! =( How you doin guys long time no see… March 17, 2008 7:22 am | link
Foulksy says:
Good news neva seems to last long………. (TGC- a global success) March 17, 2008 5:39 pm | link
Daviddatsme says:
Oh…I just can’t wit any longer for TSK. Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 17, 2008 6:40 pm | link
Daviddatsme says:
Oh…I just can’t wait any longer for TSK. Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 17, 2008 6:40 pm | link Leave a comment |
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Let me see if I understand! They don’t know if they’re going to make the sequel, but they’re already studying the contracts with foreign distributors???
Suussspiiiiciouuuuss!!!
March 15, 2008 11:38 pm | link