The Warner Bros. production of Watchmen directed by Zack Synder was supposed to open March 2009. But that plan is now in jeopardy.

“No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.”

Walter Kovacs/Rorschach

It appears that quote could end up describing the stance taken by both Warner Bros. and Fox. Fox claimed they never fully relinquished the rights to the Alan Moore/David Gibbons graphic novel. Last week.  U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess agreed with Fox that WB infringed on their copyright by developing and shooting the film.

With that victory in hand 20th Century Fox is seeking  to delay the release of the film.

A trial is set for January 20, 2009 to deal with issues involving the film’s future. The question is whether the two studios can come to some kind of compromise to allow the film to open.

WB faces something of its own Armageddon if they can’t find a way to resolve this before March. It’s not that missing that date will mean the film is never released, but it will mess with Warner’s marketing of the film. Alright, maybe not.

Of course a delay might just be a blessing in disguise making Watchmen fans more anxious than ever to see if Snyder’s film can do justice to the original material.

“Who watches the Watchmen?”

Hopefully Watchmen fans will in March.