Warner Bros. and The Weinstein Company are going head to head over the title of the new Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey film, The Butler.
A little over a month before The Butler is set for release, a title dispute has arisen between the two studios.
Warner Bros. is attempting to block Weinstein’s use of the title, as it is already the title of a 1916 silent short that resides in the WB film library.
According to Deadline, the dispute is likely the product of a conflict between the companies over Warner Bros.’ forthcoming flick, The Good Lie. The Weinstein company challenged the moniker for sounding too similar to it’s title The Good Life.
That dispute was settled quickly with Weinstein granting clearance.
It is looking increasingly like the Butler dispute will have to go into arbitration with Warner Bros. reportedly refusing to yield after an appeal from the film’s director Lee Daniels (Precious).
The film, based on true events has held its title since the development stages when Columbia held distribution rights.
It has been heavily promoted by it’s stars, Winfrey and Whitaker, as well as director Daniels, since production began. Winfrey posted several photos of herself in costume on her Twitter while the film was being shot.
The timing of the title challenge is less than ideal as the film is set to open soon and has already began its ad campaign.
The Butler stars Whitaker as real life white house butler Cecil Gaines, who served eight consecutive U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. Winfrey plays Gaines’ wife Gloria.
The all-star ensemble cast of the film includes Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, John Cusak, Jane Fonda, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, and more.
The Butler(?) opens in theaters on Aug 16.
Thanks, Deadline