The high-stakes dispute over the rights to the Watchmen film has been settled, with the parties planning to present their settlement to the judge and request a dismissal on Friday.  Although terms of the settlement will not be disclosed, Fox will not be involved with distribution of the Warner Bros. film, and will have no rights in the property going forward, according to the report.  Instead, Warners will pay cash up front plus a percentage of box office revenue.  .

Warner Bros. is reported to be seeking the cost of the settlement from producer Larry Gordon and/or his attorneys, who failed to disclose Fox’s interest in the film when the rights were transferred to Warners (see “Watchmen Judge Rules in Fox’s Favor”). 

A settlement will allow the film to be released on schedule on March 6, continuing the momentum behind the sale of the Watchmen graphic novel and other merchandise, which are blistering hot.