In what’s already a tense situation, Judge Gary Allen Feess has pushed the Watchmen trial back two weeks to January 20, 2009

The trial is set to determine whether Warner Bros. has the right to make and distribute Watchmen, or if Fox owned rights all along. Both studios had requested that the judge make a decision based solely on the summaries presented, but because the contract between Fox and producer Larry Gordon was so open, it was decided that the trial was necessary.

The worst thing about all of this is that Zack Snyder’s film for Warner Bros. is set for a March 6, 2009 release — a mere month and a half or so after the trial’s new set date. With questions swirling as to whether the movie will even get the chance to come out after this trial is over, fans may be panicking a bit. On the other hand, it has been officially documented that Alan Moore giggled for a moment… the first time he’s done so in 36 years.

It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this. If only Fox would have pursued the trial when they found out the movie was being made instead of waiting until it was completely finished and set to release. Silly Fox … or smart — if they win the suit, it could mean that they allow the film to be released, but then they get a percentage of the profits, and let’s face it, there will be a profit. As most people seem to think — and I tend to agree — this isn’t big enough to stop Watchmen from coming out and it’s likely to settle at some point.

Still, it’s right there and it’s looking at us, so cross those digits.

[Source: Variety]