This is hurrah at last for Victor Miller, the original creator of Friday the 13th, who has just won back rights to his movie!
The rights to film have been in a custody battle since 2016, as Miller tried to file a lawsuit against director and producer Sean S. Cunningham, and his production company Horror Inc.
His basis of regaining control over the franchise was a US Copyright Law that states that an author can retain the rights to his work after 35 years. As Friday the 13th was released in 1980, 2016 would mark the completion of this period.
Miller won the case in 2018 and once again settled it this year, despite Cunningham filing an appeal against it. As of December 31, 2021, Miller’s victory is a done deal as Cunningham failed to file a cert petition.
This update comes via Larry Zerner, who is both an entertainment attorney and part of the cast of Friday the 13th:
As Zerner explains, it is possible that Cunningham did not file a cert petition to contest Miller’s victory because he knew it would be both expensive and futile.
But what does this court decision really mean? Miller has won back the rights to the screenplay of Friday the 13th, but only in the USA.
On the other hand, Cunningham still retains the rights to the “adult, hockey mask-wearing Jason [Voorhes],” the iconic antagonist of Friday the 13th. He, however, cannot use this character without Miller’s permission.
This puts any future movie plans into a stalemate. Zerner believes that in the long run, Miller and Cunningham may come to a settlement that benefits both parties.
With the slasher film genre once more gaining popularity through re-entries like Halloween, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Friday the 13th franchise too would stand to benefit from the momentum.
That is if Miller and Cunningham manage to reach a resolution in time.
About Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is a 1980 American slasher film created and written by Victor Miller, with Sean S Cunningham producing and directing it.
It stars Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, and Kevin Bacon. Its plot follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer while attempting to re-open an abandoned summer camp.
The first movie’s success has led to the creation of a horror franchise that comprises twelve slasher films, a television series, novels, comic books, video games, and tie‑in merchandise.
Source: Twitter
No Comments on Original Creator Victor Miller Wins Back Rights to Friday the 13th