A federal judge in Los Angeles has set January 6 as the start date for the trial for 20th Century Fox's lawsuit over Warner Bros.' right to their upcoming WATCHMEN film, per VARIETY.
WB has not changed the March 6 release date for the film, based on the graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.
Judge Gary Allen Feess set the date Tuesday morning in a meeting between attorneys, setting up discovery and deposition proceedings for the rest of the year.
Feess denied WB's motion to dismiss the suit two weeks ago. The basis of Fox's suit is the contention that it never gave up the rights to WATCHMEN. Fox alleges that they retained distribution rights through a 1991 claim, and retained those rights since producer Larry Gordon's option to acquire Fox's remaining interest was never exercised, leaving Fox with its rights under a 1994 turnaround deal.
Fox spent about $1 million developing WATCHMEN. WB's film, directed by Zack Snyder, stars Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley.
Feess also decided Tuesday that the case was not suitable for preliminary injunction and the issues were too complex for resolution on an interim basis. Fox and WB have already been asked to move quickly through discovery.
