For years now Sean Cunningham (Director) and Victor Miller (Writer) have engaged in a series of legal battles over who owns the rights to the 1980 horror classic ‘Friday the 13th’. Victor had been granted the rights in the last round and now Sean Cunningham is continuing to dispute. But, in addition to this, Sean Cunningham is taking another battle directly to WB and Paramount.
According to THR:
“Friday the 13th producer Sean Cunningham has launched a new lawsuit over net profits from the horror franchise. According to a complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the studios distributing the films have “Systematically misaccounted” contingent compensation”
The complaint argues that despite the film grossing over $129 million Cunningham states an audit revealed there have been improper deductions of fees and bonuses, undervalued licenses, and underreporting of merchandizing revenue and pay TV income, etc. Also claiming that WB and Paramount redacted their “package” license agreements which prevents him from fully understanding the flow of money.
These legal battles have put the future of the franchise in a deadlock and it seems new cases and wrinkles continue asserting themselves. Do you think these legal battles will ever be settled and the Friday the 13th franchise will be able to move on eventually?
Born and raised in DFW Texas. 24 years old. Studied at Texas Wesleyan University. Positively love movies and love writing about them and everything that goes into them.
