How Do You Stop A TERMINATOR In Its Tracks?? A Cease & Desist Order Is One Way...

Merrick here...
Last Friday, we learned that a company called Hannover House was developing a movie called TERMINATOR 3000 - a $70 million, PG-13, animated theatrical film. In my write-up on the matter, I indicated that T3000 felt like the kind of picture that might not ever come together. Something about the announcement felt fishy, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why. But now we know. Seems Hannover House doesn't have the rights to make a damn TERMINATOR movie, and announced their intention prematurely.

Hannover House CEO Eric Parkinson told me earlier today that he issued the announcement only because one of the potential production partners spoke publicly about it. He said he was awaiting reply from WME, the agency repping the Terminator film rights. [EDIT] Hannover House's Eric Parkinson said that he just got his cease and desist letter, and then told Pacificor's attorneys of his proprietary rights position, and the fact that he's got backers in place to make a movie and deliver a big rights fee to Pacificor. "We've arranged a meeting, we'll show them our money and if the rational brain prevails, they'll take the deal. If not, I can't do it without them. You'll have a followup next week that we are either holding hands, or not doing the film. At least we now have our meeting.

...says Deadline HERE. "At least we now have our meeting." My personal, completely unsubstantiated conjecture is that the project may've been announced in this fashion to ignite some sort of Geek groundswell that the T3000 folks hoped would expedite the attainment/resolution of these pesky rights. I.e. to get attention. Again, that's merely a guess...and only a guess...not an accusation or assertion of any type. More to come as we know more.
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