Craggy-faced Hollywood royalty he may be, but even Warren Beatty (DVDs) gets into the odd little squabble.

Beatty is currently embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Chicago-based company Tribune Media Services, bickering between themselves as to who owns the rights to the character of fabled detective chappie Dick Tracy (DVDs).

Tribune wants to haul Dick Tracy back to life in the form of a major
new television series. Beatty, on the other hand, believes that there
is mileage in the idea of making a sequel to the 1990 Madonna (CDs)-starring
hit. He reckons that – were he to cobble a follow-up together – he
could expect to garner up to $30 million in profits (presumably from
audiences who failed to catch the first instalment and remain unaware
of the sheer horror awaiting them).

Despite Beatty’s legal protests, Tribune have already taken the bold
step of commissioning a writer to scribble down some episodes of the
soon-to-be-pitched series. Could Dick Tracy Goes TV be the next big hit of Desperate Housewives proportions? Only time – and court proceedings – will tell.

In the meantime? Beatty’s toys remain well and truly thrown out of his cot. Watch your step …

[story by C J Davies]