Blatty sues over sequel to 'Exorcist'

William Peter Blatty, the author of the best-selling novel "The Exorcist" who also won an Academy Award as screenwriter of the 1973 film adaptation of his book, has sued the producer of two "Exorcist" sequels, Morgan Creek Productions, for breach of contract.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, said that although Blatty had been paid for one of the sequels, "Exorcist: The Beginning," released in 2004, he had not been paid for last month's release, "Dominion: A Prequel to the Exorcist."

The suit said Morgan Creek Productions had been granted the right to make these sequels pursuant to a 1996 settlement agreement, in exchange for which Blatty would be paid $930,000 for the first theatrically released sequel and $750,000 at the start of principal photography of a subsequent sequel.

THE SUPREME COURT of Florida has ruled that Warner Brothers did not violate a state law that prohibits commercial use of someone's name without consent when it released "The Perfect Storm," the 2000 film based on Sebastian Junger's best-seller about the 1991 sinking of the Gloucester fishing boat Andrea Gail and the death of its crew.

In a 6-1 decision, the high court said that Warner Brothers did not use the name of the families of Capt. Billy Tyne, played by George Clooney, left, and the crewman Dale Murphy Sr., known as Murph (John C. Reilly), to promote the film; therefore it concluded that the law that prohibits commercial use of someone's name or likeness without his consent was not violated.

The lawsuit was filed by relatives of Tyne and Murphy, who are Florida residents. They argued that not only did the studio not obtain permission but that Warner Brothers also fictionalized the events to help boost the film's profits. Viewers are told that the film is based on a true story, but it carries a disclaimer saying, "Dialogue and certain events and characters in the film were created for the purpose of fictionalization."