Delaware Judge Awards Alcon Derivative Rights to Village Roadshow’s Warner Bros. Films

Overview

• The Delaware bankruptcy court granted Alcon the ability to authorize and participate in sequels and remakes tied to Village Roadshow’s co‑financed Warner Bros. titles.
• Alcon secured the rights in a contested process after purchasing the 108‑title library for $417.5 million and winning the derivative‑rights auction with an $18.5 million bid.
• Judge Thomas Horan criticized Warner Bros. for a last‑minute $19.5 million offer that he said appeared to run down the clock, and the studio is considering an appeal.
• The covered franchises include The Matrix, Ocean’s, Mad Max, Joker, Wonka and Practical Magic, with a court filing indicating Practical Magic 2 is expected to come first.
• Warner Bros. retains distribution rights, and Village Roadshow’s estate remains subject to a $125 million arbitration award to the studio with a $110 million sale reserve ordered by the court.