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Claiming breach of contract and four other counts, MGM put the legal gloves on today with Jake LaMotta and the producers of Raging Bull 2. In a 7-page complaint filed today (read it here) against the 91-year old former boxer and RB II Productions, MGM wants the courts to order production on Raging Bull 2, which is currently filming in LA, stopped. Additionally, the studio wants to make sure the indie movie never sees the light of day. MGM also wants compensatory damages and punitive and exemplary damages and more “awarded in an amount sufficient to punish the RB II defendants and to deter those who would commit or knowingly seek to profit from similar actions, now or in the future.”
MGM alleges LaMotta had no right to allow RB II Productions the rights to his 1986 sequel book without first offering it to them. That comes from a 1976 agreement the boxer and co-author Peter Savage entered into with Chartoff-Winkler Productions. That agreement, which MGM is the successor-in-interest to, not only included his 1970 memoir but extended to any “owner-written sequel,” says the studio. MGM says that RB II has ignored the studio’s attempts to get them and LaMotta to comply with the 1976 agreement.
In its complaint today MGM also says that Raging Bull 2 producers are “publicly associating the Sequel Picture” with the original Raging Bull. MGM claims that this “is plainly intended to create confusion in the marketplace and to trade off the value” of the Martin Scorsese-directed 1980 Oscar-nominated film. The studio, which owns United Artists, the studio that put out the original, says this will “irreparably tarnish the value of the Picture and MGM’s rights therein.” Scorsese and Raging Bull star Robert DeNiro have nothing to do with Raging Bull 2. The sequel is written and directed by Martin Guigui. MGM has requested a three to five day jury trial. MGM are represented by Richard B. Kendall of L.A.’s Kendall Brill & Klieger.
RELATED: Cloris Leachman Joins ‘Raging Bull 2′
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Damn, I guess that kills my plans for ‘Mean Streets 2′…
And…
TAXI DRIVER 2: INCREASED FARES
BETTERFELLAS
THE COLOR OF MARKET COLLAPSE
ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE CAUSE THE DAMN BANK TOOK HER HOUSE
THE AGE OF GREED
Dude, you should be writing comedy for a living: I hope you are. Hilarious stuff
very funny. drugs? or talent?
I feel your pain, Kevster. This definitely crushes my plans to make 49 sequels to Gangs of New York, each with a different state (Gangs of Los Angeles, Gangs of Hawaii, etc.).
And by putting ‘Los Angeles,’ which is obviously not a state, I screwed up my own joke. Damn.
Why? Los Angeles THINKS it’s a state. That’s all that counts.
It was still funny Bob – I laughed! And really it works because the New York in the title really means New York City (technically it could go either way, but really it means NYC)
How about Gangs of New York musicals? You can put the hack American Idol losers to work! HA!
I thought most contracts were for 7 years, not an obligation for life, unless that notation is included in the contract.
7 years, huh? A clause is a clause.
Totally on MGM’s side with this one. The movie sounds like a straight-to-video with washed up B-actors, has-beens, and never-was’s.
They are totally trying to ride the wave of success of Scorsese’s masterpiece, not only one of the best films of the 1980′s, but one of the best films ever. And that was all Scorsese, DeNiro, and Thelma. None of these current losers.
Sorry Jakey-boy, but once a hustler, always a hustler, even at 91. You should have abided by your contract. Now let the Raging Bull lawyers of MGM come after you. You may have never went down for Sugar Ray, but you’re surely going down now.
Go get ‘em MGM!
As one of the supporting cast of RB 2…and friend of the director, writer, and several producers…
I was im pressed by the dedication of the ENTIRE cast and crew…the creative process on the set was positive and family oriented—-JOBS were created and relationships solidified by RB 2.
Regardless of the so-called MGM lawsuit–IT WAS AN AMAZING PRODUCTION—
Yes, WGA scripts revert after 7 years if the movie isn’t made.
However,
This is a life rights and book purchase, the movie was made and all contracted options are active.
All MGM needs is one “in perpetuity” in there and it’s theirs.
If the book was never offered to them and that is contractually required, they win too.
Quite frankly, they should have bought the book years ago and put it in a drawer…
Actually, nothing “reverts” in 7 years. You have the ability to purchase your script back 5 years after your last draft (window closing at 10 years after last draft) if the project is no longer in development and if it’s an original script (not an adaptation). It’s called the reacquisition clause and it doesn’t apply to books, life rights, or anything that this lawsuit is dealing with.
The bigger question is, who in God’s name would ever sign on to this?!
It’s like that skit where Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn are pitching Titanic 2.
A sequel/reboot/remake will irreparably tarnish how people view the original? There’s a novel idea!
Rats! I was really looking forward to Dustin Diamond’s take on LaMotta.
I was awfully surprised that there hadn’t been much outcry from the fans when I saw the trailer for this. Seemed like cinematic sacrilege.
There’s not a trailer yet, is there? They’re still filming. Couldn’t find it by googling…
MGM and Scorsese and De Niro all passed on this sequel. Now they are angry it’s being made without them. Sounds like sour grapes and jealousy. They should let it be made it would increase the want to see value of the original on DVD and they’d be able to re-release the 1980 film with greatly increased demand for it. Dopes.
You definitely don’t sound like you’re involved with this production, Bullshit. Even if you really aren’t, thank you for reaffirming my faith that the delirious levels of delusion in this town will never cease to abate.
Scorsese and De Niro passed (if they were even ever offered – doubtful the amateur producers even got the script to them) because the script sucks and they have better projects to do, there’s no point in revisiting a classic, and it will be straight-to-video. Scorsese and De Niro have class. And if you read the story, they never took it to MGM, that’s the whole point. MGM had first negotiation rights on any sequel book –
“MGM alleges LaMotta had no right to allow RB II Productions the rights to his 1986 sequel book without first offering it to them.”
If MGM decided to move forward with it, Scorsese or none, De Niro or none, I’m sure they would have moved forward with professionals.
Who the heck is this Martin Guigui director guy – never heard of any of his straight-to-DVD movies – National Lampoon’s CATTLE CALL??? Are you kidding me? This is the guy directing a prequel/sequel to a classic film? Of course he’s going to ruin MGM’s property.
Just shows how amateur the producer is, and also LaMotta. I feel bad for the 91 year old who’s probably trying to get one last 15 mins of fame before his deathbed, but a contract is a contract, and he clearly broke it.
Go after them all MGM!!! Sugar Ray may have never knocked down LaMotta but he’s surely going down now. This is his last round.
Um. They were never even approached, and if they had been, they would have laughed YOU out of the room (you’re obviously involved in this direct-to-video crap). NOBODY will EVER know about this piece of garbage. “Jealousy”? Scorsese “JEALOUS” – of THIS crap? Is that a JOKE? LOL Wow – dude – SEEK THERAPY.
Let’s be honest. That film was so over rated and if you liked it you’re probably very wrong in many areas.
RAGING BULL overrated?
“Overrated”? Christ, you MUST be a suit to say something like that.
RAGING BULL overrated?
Consider yourself rechristened Captain Alcohol.
MGM is upset that they had to divert their attention from reshooting GI JOE 2 to focus on this lawsuit.
I wonder what the sequel is about: 91-year old Jake LaMotta fights his now toothless ex-adversary of sixty years ago in a secret fight club in the cellar of an LA retirement home.
Destined to take a place next to such forgotten sequels/prequels as: The Sting II, French Connection II, Butch and Sundance The Early Days, The Rage: Carrie 2, etc. etc. etc.
That’s it! I’m going to make CITIZEN KANE 2 and no one is going to stop me! Eat your heart out, Orson Welles!
Have you seen the trailer of the sequel to “Starship Troopers”? (Not that it’s a classic, but it’s a good Sci-Fi picture)
It’s not even live action, just some garbage animation. Sequels are getting worse and worse.
I’m just waiting for “Godfather V” – as a puppet show.
..and let’s not forget The Exorcist II: The Heretic. On second thought, let’s forget it.
To paraphrase, Your honor , that petition should be taken out and shot! The composition of filings and merit that stand on becomes worse and worse with each day’s filings I read. This Brill filing on behalf of plaintiff read as if they put the bid out to their clerks to come with a protection filing on a holiday deadline, winner gets to attend firm’s BBQ today. Take the cheapest labor pool for retainer clients, dangle a carrot,hope it passes muster. Then file hundreds of interrogatories that they will never answer. No judge in his right mind would sign a C&D (cease) motion on an existing production and put workers out of jobs at this time. Enough already.
You obviously work for the production and hope against hope that they get away with this criminal act.
United Artists bought the book and has first rights in any derivative project.
The gameplan we had here was perfect and legal. The filmmakers violated our rights. We never lose those rights and had no deadline to assert them (see Fox/Warners/WATECHMEN). We waited until they had expended money and it was crystal clear that they were in fact going to violate. Now that they have it is a simple case of shutting down and going home for LaMotta.
The sequel should have been called Raging Bulls and been about the lead character giving up boxing, moving to Spain, and getting involved in bullfighting. One day he finds himself in the ring with two of the meanest bulls in the town who were tortured by their previous owner, who was also a boxer.
“Alice doesn’t live here anymore cause the damn bank took her house”.
Best sequel title ever. Kudos!
De niro and Scorsese wanted to make Taxi Driver 2 in 2005…it never came off but it shows how eager Hollywood is to revisit past successes and make a quick buck
This is why you include a buy back option for derivative rights.
if the movie is not an economic hit you can try again. If it is a hit you include a 60 day submission option pay or play on sequels so the studios can not continue to screw you.
Since when does Hollywood care about tarnishing the reputation of classics? That’s a laughable quote. All they do is sequels and remakes. It’s pathetic.
You talkin’ to me LaMotta? I got your movie sequel right here.
Taxi Driver vs. Raging Bull I’ll play both parts. Bobby DeNiro can do anything. I’m an Oscar winner. It’ll be a sequel to both movies.
I did Analyze This then Analyze That. I did Meet the Parents then Meet the Fockers then Meet the Little Fockers. I will do any movie any time if the price is right.
Scorsese can go to hell. He’s in love with DiCaprio now he loves Leo the same way he used to love me. I’m jealous so screw Marty.
Best musical waiting to go!
the singular shock value of this litigation may put the 91 year old former pugilist & the 86 year old cloris leachman into the CCU…
That’s rather genius actually. Don’t let Asylum hear about this idea.
I’m surprised it’s gotten this far. To some extent won’t the underlying legal question become to WHAT extent a contract can preclude someone from vending their own story if it’s not part of the originating material in the suit? Obviously depends on the contract in total although I can’t imagine dibs on the title, contractually, for MGM wouldn’t be a given but you never know. If MGM doesn’t want LaMotta’s story, even if they technically enjoy that right, it could get a little “restraint of trade”-y depending on the judge it seems to me. It’s a terrible idea. Like doing a sequel to “Annie Hall” without Woody Allen or “Citizen Kane” without Orson Welles – the film is that personality-centric as I see it.
A bad sequel has NEVER tarnished the original, because we, as human beings, immediately disassociate them.
Jurassic Park, The Mask, The Matrix, Speed, Sandlot, Boondock Saints. No one cares about those sequels.
But, now that I’ve typed and read this, I realize I’m comparing all these movies to Raging Bull… I feel a little stupid.
Just make them change the title. Leave them alone and let the movie fail/succeed on it’s own.