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Weinstein Company and Warners battle over rights to title The Butler Weinstein Company and Warners battle over rights to title The Butler
(2 months later)
Oscar-tipped Lee Daniels film The Butler could be forced to change its title after a copyright claim from a rival studio, according to Deadline.Oscar-tipped Lee Daniels film The Butler could be forced to change its title after a copyright claim from a rival studio, according to Deadline.
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Starring Forest Whitaker as an African American member of White House staff who served eight US presidents, Daniels' historical drama is one of the early frontrunners for next year's awards season. However, it now finds itself caught up in a battle between The Weinstein Company, which is distributing, and Warner Bros. The latter studio says it owns rights to the title "The Butler" courtesy of a little-known 1919 silent comedy short that it released almost a century ago under the same name.Starring Forest Whitaker as an African American member of White House staff who served eight US presidents, Daniels' historical drama is one of the early frontrunners for next year's awards season. However, it now finds itself caught up in a battle between The Weinstein Company, which is distributing, and Warner Bros. The latter studio says it owns rights to the title "The Butler" courtesy of a little-known 1919 silent comedy short that it released almost a century ago under the same name.
According to Deadline, Weinstein and his team are outraged over what is seen as a "screw you" move, inspired by The Weinstein Company's recent move to challenge a forthcoming Warner film titled The Good Lie because it resembled the title of a Weinstein film named The Good Life. Supporters of The Weinstein Company point out that the production company had dropped the earlier copyright claim prior to the farrago surrounding The Butler.According to Deadline, Weinstein and his team are outraged over what is seen as a "screw you" move, inspired by The Weinstein Company's recent move to challenge a forthcoming Warner film titled The Good Lie because it resembled the title of a Weinstein film named The Good Life. Supporters of The Weinstein Company point out that the production company had dropped the earlier copyright claim prior to the farrago surrounding The Butler.
Deadline says Daniels himself stepped in to try and convince Warner to drop its legal challenge, but was batted back. Executives even appealed to the rival studio on the grounds that The Butler was the last film overseen by the late Spider-Man producer Laura Ziskin, but to no avail. The claim will now go to arbitration.Deadline says Daniels himself stepped in to try and convince Warner to drop its legal challenge, but was batted back. Executives even appealed to the rival studio on the grounds that The Butler was the last film overseen by the late Spider-Man producer Laura Ziskin, but to no avail. The claim will now go to arbitration.
The Butler sees Whitaker, a past Oscar-winner for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, as a servant named Cecil Gaines. The character is based on that of the real-life White House butler Eugene Allen, who served presidents between 1952 and his retirement in 1986 - by which time he had risen from a lowly pantry man to the head role, Maître d'hotel.The Butler sees Whitaker, a past Oscar-winner for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, as a servant named Cecil Gaines. The character is based on that of the real-life White House butler Eugene Allen, who served presidents between 1952 and his retirement in 1986 - by which time he had risen from a lowly pantry man to the head role, Maître d'hotel.
Daniels' film also stars Oprah Winfrey, in her first big screen role since 1998's Beloved, as Gaines's wife, Gloria. Britain's David Oyelowo plays his son, Louis, who becomes a freedom fighter during the civil rights era, a role that brings him into conflict with his father.Daniels' film also stars Oprah Winfrey, in her first big screen role since 1998's Beloved, as Gaines's wife, Gloria. Britain's David Oyelowo plays his son, Louis, who becomes a freedom fighter during the civil rights era, a role that brings him into conflict with his father.
The Butler also features a much-garlanded cast playing the various presidents and first ladies Gaines meets along the way: Robin Williams plays Dwight D Eisenhower, Melissa Leo appears as Mamie Eisenhower, James Marsden portrays John F Kennedy with Minka Kelly as wife Jackie, John Cusack plays Richard Nixon, and Alan Rickman is Ronald Reagan, with Jane Fonda as his wife, Nancy. Daniels himself directed the Oscar-winning 2009 drama Precious, which saw Mo'Nique and Geoffrey Fletcher take home gongs for best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay, respectively.The Butler also features a much-garlanded cast playing the various presidents and first ladies Gaines meets along the way: Robin Williams plays Dwight D Eisenhower, Melissa Leo appears as Mamie Eisenhower, James Marsden portrays John F Kennedy with Minka Kelly as wife Jackie, John Cusack plays Richard Nixon, and Alan Rickman is Ronald Reagan, with Jane Fonda as his wife, Nancy. Daniels himself directed the Oscar-winning 2009 drama Precious, which saw Mo'Nique and Geoffrey Fletcher take home gongs for best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay, respectively.
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