A few years in the past, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Highway Home remake was an enormous film for Amazon. Though it solely debuted on streaming, tens of millions went there to observe it and had numerous enjoyable within the course of. The film did so properly that it was a no brainer to greenlight a sequel. However now, in an incidence that would solely occur in Hollywood, there are two competing Highway Home sequels in improvement: one from the studio (Amazon MGM) and a insurgent undertaking from the remake’s authentic director, Doug Liman.It is a type of loopy issues that we now have to cowl. Let’s dive in.
The Story Behind Dueling ‘Highway Home 2’ Films
So, let’s simply get proper into it. Amazon MGM Studios did the factor everyone knows would occur and formally moved ahead with Highway Home 2 as soon as they noticed the streaming success of the primary one. That movie retains a lot of the expertise from the primary one: Who’s Concerned: Jake Gyllenhaal returns as Elwood Dalton. He’ll be joined by newcomers like Dave Bautista, Aldis Hodge, and Leila George.Who’s Not: Doug Liman. After his very public dispute with the studio, Liman is out. Ilya Naishuler (No one) will take over directing duties.The Plan: This sequel is being developed for a launch on Prime Video.Doug Liman’s Personal Imaginative and prescient That is the place issues get wild. Doug Liman, who felt betrayed by Amazon after the primary film, is not simply strolling away. He is launching his personal competing Highway Home film to battle their film. The Movie: Liman has acquired the rights to Highway Home: Dylan, a sequel script written by R. Lance Hill, the person who wrote the unique Highway Home.The Plot: This movie is not going to be a sequel to the Gyllenhaal one. As a substitute, it’s a direct sequel to the 1989 film, following the story of Swayze’s character.How Is This Legally Attainable? I am not a lawyer, however none of this looks like it ought to be capable of be taking place. And but…this entire factor really all hinges on an enormous federal lawsuit over who really owns the Highway Home rights.The Author’s Declare: R. Lance Hill filed to reclaim his rights, arguing his 1989 Highway Home script was not work for rent. He claims he wrote it as a spec, bought it at public sale, and had no studio supervision. By his rely, the rights reverted to him in November 2023.The Legislation: Part 203 of the U.S. Copyright Act permits authentic authors to reclaim the rights to their work after 35 years, except it was created as a “work for rent.”The Studio’s Declare: Amazon and MGM declare that as a result of Hill bought the script by way of his loan-out company, it legally qualifies as a “work for rent,” which means the studio owns it endlessly.They will must type by way of all of the accompanying paperwork and memos, and offers to see what occurred. Why Is that this Occurring? Okay, so the essential reply is that there is a ton of dangerous blood between Amazon, MGM, and Liman. He wished theatrical, they did streaming, and the fallout ensued. Liman publicly protested the choice and wrote a visitor column for Deadline, blasting the studio and its choices. So by buying the rights from Hill, Liman is placing again on the studio with a film he feels may harm them and assist himself.Summing It All Up That is such a wild story that seems like a film plot in its personal proper. We now have two competing chains of title, two scripts, and two very completely different films. I’m not positive if both of those will get made, however it might be so humorous to dwell in a world the place they each do and get to face off. That simply feels poetic. Let me know what you suppose within the feedback.
