Stan Lee Media Sues Conan

By Ryan Fleming August 26, 2011

Conan the Barbarian may soon be facing a different type of battle than he is used. While the character is best known for crushing his enemies, seeing them driven before him and hearing the lamentation of their women, the character’s most deadly adventure yet may soon find him at the mercy of the dreaded scourge known as lawyers. And while these lawyers may not be able to turn into snakes (insert your own joke here) or lead hordes down upon unsuspecting villages (see previous insert your own joke comment), they could have an impact on the future of the character.

Stan Lee Media, Inc. (SLMI) has petitioned a judge to rule in its favor regarding the rights of the character of Conan the Barbarian. SLMI is claiming that the rights to Robert E. Howard’s character still legally belong to them, and it is seeking 100-percent of the profits from the recent film adaptation starring Jason Momoa as the title character.

According to EW.com, lawyers for SLMI are claiming that its 2001 bankruptcy should have prevented anyone from being able to take the rights of the character away from them. It also claims that it was betrayed by a former lawyer that made an illegal deal which allowed the film to be made.

While the tale of betrayal and false promises may be right up Conan’s ally, the likely result is a less than spectacular legal battle that would bore Crom.

The filmmakers have yet to respond, but it may be a moot point if SLMI is after the profits. The new Conan the Barbarian film cost $90 million to make, but has to date only made $18.3 million worldwide since its August 19 opening.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Entertainment

10 best action-comedies of all-time, ranked

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon.

While straight action films like John Wick are far from extinct, it's the action comedies that tend to become the popular box office hits. Movie fans just love to laugh at the funny parts while enjoying the accompanying action. Not every action comedy is created equal, and Hollywood has admittedly gone to the well with the buddy-cop movies a little bit too often.

This weekend, The Fall Guy is the latest action comedy to attempt to give the genre some fresh blood, even though it's technically based on a TV series from the '80s that has largely been forgotten. Regardless, that's as good a reason as any to update our list of the best action comedies of all time. It would be too easy to load up this list with films from the '80s and '90s, when action comedies were at their peak. However, we've also saved some slots for more recently released action comedies that deserve some recognition as well.
10. Hot Fuzz (2007)

Entertainment

If you have to watch one Hulu movie in May 2024, stream this one

Tom Hanks in Cast Away.

It's a new month, and that means new movies on Hulu. And somebody over there really loves Tom Hanks. Because in this month alone, Hulu is adding Hanks' directorial debut, That Thing You Do, one of his most iconic films, Big, and one of his most recent hits, Elvis. But if we had to choose only one Hulu movie to stream in May 2024, then our pick is another Tom Hanks movie: Cast Away.

Robert Zemeckis directed the film from a script by William Broyles Jr. It cast Hanks as Chuck Noland, a FedEx employee who survives a plane crash in the Pacific ocean, only to find himself stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere without anyone to turn to but himself. Cast Away was actually a big hit in late 2000 and during the early part of 2001, earning $429.6 million worldwide. That may not have translated into Oscar gold for two-time Best Actor winner Hanks, but Cast Away is an unforgettable film that deserves a new audience nearly 24 years after it hit theaters.
Tom Hanks throws himself into his role

Entertainment

3 underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in May

A low-angle shot of Ryan Gosling in a phone booth holding the receiver in a scene from All Good Things.

Whether it’s a rainy day in or a quiet night at home, why not relax with a good movie? Deciding what movie to watch, however, can be a challenge. You might have already watched all the latest films you had on your radar and you’re looking for something different you’d never have chosen on your own -- a hidden gem.

There are three underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in May that you might have overlooked. Don’t count them out. One (or more) of these movies, ranging from a 2010 Ryan Gosling mystery/crime drama to a recent Judd Apatow comedy, might be exactly what you’re looking for. They’re all streaming right now with a base subscription to Amazon Prime Video.
All Good Things (2010)
All Good Things Trailer Official