Weinsteins sue Relativity over 'The Crow,' studio fights back

The original film debuted in 1994.

Apparently I wasn't the only one upset by Relativity Media's plans to remake "The Crow," although not for the same reasons.

The Weinstein Co. sued Relativity Wednesday, claiming the company broke an existing contract between the two over the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of the film.

According to the suit, which The Hollywood Reporter posted online, the Weinsteins claim that Relativity owner Ryan Kavanaugh "decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC's distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of the contract."

Relativity recently announced Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”) would direct the remake and Bradley Cooper is reportedly in talks to star.

It did not take long for Kavanaugh to respond to the suit, releasing the following statement:

This is yet another typical litigation stunt from the Weinsteins, who have a long history of threatening lawsuits with the sole purpose of intimidation. If served, Relativity will seek immediate dismissal. While we expect these types of antics from the Weinsteins, we are shocked that a lawyer of Mr. Fields' caliber would make such false, reckless and intentionally harmful statements to the press about Relativity and Mr. Kavanaugh. We intend to seek appropriate remedies for this misconduct. Clearly, this is a feeble attempt to create a press stir and a malicious effort to interfere with Relativity's development of the project.  

In addition, Relativity provided The Hollywood Reporter a letter sent by its attorney Carol Genis to The Weinstein Company's lawyer Bert Fields, rejecting the suit and claiming the Weinsteins failed to uphold their distribution agreement for 2009's "Nine," which was partially financed by Relativity.

"It takes gall for your client to make demands upon Relativity about The Crow, which has not even been greenlit, when TWC's failure to properly distribute Nine demonstrated that it will disregard and breach any and all of its distribution, marketing and financial obligations. If any party is entitled to seek legal remedies it is Relativity," the letter states.

"Your client is forewarned and proceeds at its own peril," Genis concludes.

It's not unusual for litigation such as this to spring up, especially on projects that have spent a long time on shelves or have bumped around from studio to studio. Usually both sides bluster and shout, then settle. The particular hostility in Genis' letter seems to put that in doubt, but it is still very early in this case.