Latino Review has nabbed an exclusive that claims MacGyver is going to take MacGruber to court. Now, some of you might be having the obvious reaction of “Dude, they’ve been running MacGruber sketches on SNL for like…a hundred (unfunny) years. Why a lawsuit now?”
On the surface it might seem like a money-grab scheme now that MacGruber is going to the movies – however, according to Latino Review‘s source (and some legal research) there is a fine line of parody rights that MacGruber may have crossed by making the jump to the big screen.
You see, the laws of Parody are extremely strict. You can do a 5 page mockery of the Fantastic Four in MAD MAGAZINE ( I always loved their movie parodies!). You can do a 4 minute sketch mocking It’s A Wonderful Life on SNL or MadTv. But it is a limited right, chicos! You can’t suddenly do a comic called The Fantastical Four and not get sued blind by Marvel.
So there’s this rich guy named Lee Zlotoff…He created MacGyver and is working on the film at New Line Cinema. And he is in the wings I hear tell with the Madre of all lawsuits. Not just to shut the film down and save us from this cinematic hell. No. He’s looking at [the studio] for dolares. Mucho Dolares. And it seems likely that he would get it too. Again, think about it- otherwise I could make the YAWNING- Y MEN about some bored mutants without pissing Fox off. And of course I can’t.
Pinche Taco has a lot more info to share about the situation but you’ll have to read it over at Latino Review.
I don’t know who to roll my eyes at first in this situation. On the one hand, if this is indeed the state of affairs, I want to look at SNL producer Lorne Michaels (who is making this MacGruber flick happen) like “Bro, didn’t you CYA before you jumped into this?” However, I also want to tell Lee Zlotoff to pipe down and let this MacGruber movie play out.
After all, let’s face it: MacGyver hasn’t been relevant as anything other than fodder for parody or an occasional Simpsons reference for over a decade now. You want to move some DVDs, get yourself a new syndication deal or – the golden goose – a series reboot, Mr. Zlotoff? Then maybe you should consider letting this film spoof your character back into limelight. I’m sure there are plenty of kids who would love to meet Mr. MacGyver again for the very first time.
On the other hand, even though the MacGruber trailer was slightly better than terrible, it still might not be a bad thing to let this movie vanish into legality – before any more irrepairable damage is done to Val Kilmer’s career.
What do you think? Should MacGyver take MacGruber to court? Or leave him alone and try to reap some back-end benefits?
Source: Latino Review
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Uh, then what about Space Balls? That's the most recognizable movie-length parody of them all. Nobody when all money-grabbing about that.
I think George lucas likes when people parody Star Wars. That is why he allows Family Guy to do their “movie” parodies.
Yeah, I think it is all about permission. If you get permission from whoever owns the rights, you can do whatever you want. If you don't, there are probably stricter rules. I assumed that this movie being made meant that they had permission. Apparently not.
Maybe Mel Brooks is just smart enough to cover his butt. Besides, he wasn't just parodying ONE movie, he was parodying a whole GENRE of movies.
Does this really matter, SNL movies aren't as good as they used to be back when Wayne's World came out, this new generation of “comedians” lack alot of what previous incarnations of SNL had, this would just be a straight to DVD thing.
All I got out of this was He created MacGyver and is working on the film at New Line Cinema.
I have been waiting for a Macgyver film for many years.
creative property is creative property. Latino Review made an excellent point. The moronic “MacGruber” spoofs on SNL are one thing…to try to rake in millions of dollar through a major studio motion picture is another.
Besides, this lawsuit may due us all a favor and prevent the release of yet another SNL train-wreck movie. Val Kilmer's name in the film? Oh high sweet comedy! Why not just call him “Mike Rotch” and get it over with?
I'd love to see a MacGyver big screen adaptation but really what would it be about? RDA's following is more familiar with his role in SG-1 than they are w/his mullet wearing days.
George Lucas is a huge family guy fan and gives them the rights to parody his films, not just because he likes when people do it.
What is Richard Dean Anderson saying? Heck, he even starred in one of MacGrubbers SNL episodes!
“Then maybe you should consider letting this film spoof your character back into limelight.”
Yeah I think he's making a big mistake. He should force them to the negotiation table to keep the title and re-cut the film so that its not an exclusive Macgyver parody. Means they would have to come up with some other story or stories to shove into it somewhere, but if they take some of the key footage out they would have material for a g'awfull sequel.
“Spaceballs” and Family Guy's creators got permission from George Lucas to go ahead with the scripts. Both movie creators talked about it in the commentaries, which come with the films on dvds.
Since MacGruber was so popular on SNL, I think Zlotoff should just let MacGruber play out, and reap the benefits of this parody bringing MacGyver back to the limelights.
Since MacGruber was so popular on SNL, I think Zlotoff should just let MacGruber play out, and reap the benefits of this parody bringing MacGyver back to the limelights.