It was a few months ago that an excited Kevin Smith announced he was developing a TV show based on the 1980s cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, and it was revealed recently that he was partnering with Amazon Studios on the project. However, it seems there is some dispute over the rights with the film’s original writer and director, which has led to a lawsuit being filed by MGM, and Kevin Smith subsequently departing the project.
MGM has filed suit against Earl Mac Rauch and Walter Richter, the writer and director of the original movie, who claim they own the exclusive rights to develop a TV series. Rauch and Richter’s agent Mark Lichtman claimed in July they owned the rights to Buckaroo Banzai, which prompted MGM to file a cease and desist. In August, Rauch and Richter’s attorney Kenneth Keller said, “We are not claiming the limited rights which MGM might own with respect to the single motion picture, Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, although as is discussed below, there are certainly serious questions even as to the chain of title with respect to that picture and MGM’s rights associated with it. What my clients own are the overall rights to the world of Buckaroo Banzai, and all of the characters, themes and ideas associated with that world.”
The story goes that Rauch and Richter had pitched a TV show and sequel to MGM in the 1980s, which the studio turned down. “Critically… MGM passed on the opportunity to option or obtain any rights in Mr. Rauch’s larger property, including the other four episodes which he had written to the point or any other rights to the world of BUCKAROO BANZAI,” continued Keller’s letter. “The Agreement itself specifically defines what MGM was contracting to acquire — a screenplay (based on a single episode of Buckaroo Banzai) and two revisions — and the rights associated with that screenplay.”
UPDATE: Kevin Smith has now posted a response to the lawsuit on Facebook, stating that he is “no longer involved” with the proposed series: “This is not what I signed up for. I was caught off-guard [by the lawsuit]. I literally had no idea. It blows, man, because that’s the closest I’ve come to having my own show so far.”
Originally published November 28, 2016. Updated April 13, 2018.
