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$900 Million Lawsuit Conjured Up Against Warner Bros.

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Still reeling from the success of The Conjuring 2, it would seem as if nothing can stop the Warner Bros. Horror Train. Until today, that is.

Gerald Brittle, who told Ed and Lorraine Warren’s tale in his 1980 book The Demonologistis seeking nearly one billion dollars in damages against Warner Bros. His case? The Conjuring 2 and all related tales stole from his book. This includes both Annabelle and the original The Conjuring film. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to break this story earlier today.

One may think this is a ridiculous claim – after all, how could you steal from a true story? – but that’s exactly where things start to get tricky. First, you have the statement that in 1978, Ed and Lorraine Warren agreed on a non-competition provision. In short, this means that they signed over their stories to him. He has exclusive rights to any story involving their paranormal work.

 

The production team behind the films got permission from Lorraine Warren to do the film – but that doesn’t mean squat, according to their agreement, which still holds today.  And it gets even more sticky. Remember that whole “true story” thing? Brittle no longer believes the Warrens.

If The Conjuring was based on a true story, the Warner Bros. fate would be less cut and dry. But Brittle does not claim that The Demonologist is a true story. Instead, he believes that the Warrens made up the whole tale. If that’s the case, he believes his book to be a work of fiction, which he, not the Warrens, owns the rights to.

Brittle also has confirmation that his book was read before the first film was written, as proven in a tweet by James Wan, which took only a quick Google search to reveal. This was Tweeted in 2011. The Conjuring entered pre-production the same year. This confirms that the director had prior knowledge of The Demonologist.

Yet, despite Brittle’s new claims that the book is now a work of fiction, the website for his book states the exact opposite. From the site:

The Demonologist is a nonfiction title that was first published in 1980 and has remained in print ever since.

It’s worth noting that at the bottom of the page on the site for the book, the copyright is up to date. Meaning that the book is still being marketed as a work of nonfiction.

Neither James Wan nor Warner Bros. has issued a comment yet.

I’m just here to report the news, not to tell you what to think. But if you want my opinion, something seems a little funny about this lawsuit. Brittle’s claim seems a bit excessive, and it doesn’t seem right to still have your name on something that is your intellectual property and to market it as a true story but to then to claim that you no longer believe in the factuality of it. However, I’m not a judge. I don’t know how this will play out in the legal system. I have a feeling that we will be hearing more about this story soon, so keep an eye out.

And for what it’s worth, I love The Conjuring, and frankly, I would still enjoy it even if it was all rooted in fiction.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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