The production company that co-financed both Dune and the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong, Legendary Entertainment, may take legal action against Warner Bros. for the studio’s recent announcement that they’d be sending their 2021 slate to HBO Max the same day they debut in theaters. 

Legendary financed a significant portion Dune, which cost roughly $175M, and Godzilla vs. Kong, which cost about $160M, but they were largely left out of the conversation when it came to Warner Bros. 2021 release bombshell that could end up altering the entire industry.  

According to sources familiar with the situation, Legendary is currently trying to negotiate for a more generous deal with Warner Bros., but they aren’t taking legal action off the table. A possibility is that Warner Bros. may simply purchase the films from Legendary. If Legendary is to take legal action, it would likely involve a breach of contract. 

Insiders have also revealed that Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune, is also disappointed in the new HBO Max plan and prefers the idea of a traditional theatrical release for his film. The upcoming film is intended to be the first of a two-part retelling of Frank Herbert’s iconic 1965 novel, and stars Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaac. It’s set to release October 1, 2021. 

Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to debut May 21, 2021.