Key Takeaways:
– Living Dead Media LLC claims ownership of copyright for the classic zombie movie “The Return of the Living Dead.”
– New company, ROTLD Originals LLC, formed by movie cast members, is disputing these copyright claims.
– Beverly Randolph, an original cast member, has signed the formation document for ROTLD Originals LLC.
– The dispute between the two entities will progress to Los Angeles Superior Court soon.
Alright zombie movie fans, get ready for some drama. No, it’s not flesh-eating groans or graveyards awakens we’re talking about. What’s brewing is a real-life, not reel-life, drama: a legal dispute over the copyright of the cult classic film “The Return of the Living Dead”.
Way back some forty years ago, a brilliant mind named Dan O’Bannon crafted this horror-comedy masterpiece. But guess what? Now, there’s a face-off between two companies – Living Dead Media LLC and ROTLD Originals LLC – who each insist they have the copyrights to that film. Sounds spooky, right?
Trouble in the Living Dead’s Paradise
So, here’s what’s up. Living Dead Media LLC claims they own the screenplay and the other trademarks. Remember, they even announced last year they’re planning a reboot. But, stepping in last month was a new player in town – ROTLD Originals LLC, formed by some original cast members of the movie.
Now, the interesting bit is that Beverly Randolph, who you may remember as Beverly Dawn Hartley in the movie, is part of this company. Their mission, according to Randolph’s social media, is to “gain back our rights of our images.” Seems pretty fair, huh? They also plan to sell signed images directly to fans on their website.
These are all great plans, except Living Dead Media LLC isn’t cool with them. As reported by Deadline, this growing feud is now headed to court.
Legal Drama Unfolding
Today, Living Dead Media LLC filed a lawsuit against ROTLD Originals LLC in Los Angeles Superior Court. Their main argument? Being a movie’s actor doesn’t give anyone the rights to the characters or related intellectual property. They’re of the view that Ms. Hartley and other members of ROTLD, have no rights over any merchandise being sold by licensees.
But, one question remains. Who are the real brains behind the original story of “The Return of the Living Dead”? Thanks to the efforts by Rudy Ricci, John A. Russo, and Russell Streiner, this movie was conceived as a follow-up to “Night of the Living Dead”. But the true magic happened when O’Bannon revamped the entire blueprint. The result was a horror comedy that has continued to entertain zombie movie lovers for decades.
So where does this lawsuit leave our beloved cast – Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Miguel A. Nunez Jr., John Philbin, and others – who all breathed life into these classic characters?
Your Thoughts Matter
As we wait for this dispute to play out in court, we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts on this copyright battle in the comments below! Will the courtroom turn into a battleground for living zombies? Let’s just wait and watch!
