Entertainment lawyer Larry Zerner, who has been on top of the “Friday the 13th” lawsuits over the years, has posted a legal document on Twitter indicating Clive Barker has apparently sued for a declaratory judgment to allow him to get back his rights to his book “The Hellbound Heart” which launched the famed “Hellraiser” franchise.
Zerner adds that: “Barker’s termination (if effective) would not take place until December 19th 2021. If the producers can get a new movie out before then, they would be legally in the clear. Just nothing new after that date.”
Speaking with Bloody Disgusting, Zerner says Barker would get back his rights in the underlying story he wrote and also the rights in first script. He would not get any rights in things that were in any of the sequels that were added.
In April came news that HBO has ordered a TV series based on the property with David Gordon Green directing the pilot, while Michael Dougherty and Mark Verheiden are penning the screenplays. Producer David Bruckner is also developing a new film take on the property. For now it’s unclear if or how either project’s development will be affected.
Changes to copyright law in 1976 means that many iconic horror franchises from the late 70s and 80s will soon enter issues over rights that could shift hands back to their creators.
Sources: Twitter, Bloody Disgusting
