Oprah’s The Butler Movie drama is over

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The legal battle over the title of forthcoming The Butler Movie has finally ended.

According to the AP, the Motion Picture Association of America ruled in favour of Warner Bros. and banned The Weinstein Company from using it for Lee Daniels’ White House drama.

The MPAA’s Title Registration Bureau said Warner Bros. still retains the rights of the title due to their 1916 short film The Butler.

Harvey Weinstein is now reported to be planning to rename the film Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

‘[I’m] thrilled this has all come to an end,’ the Hollywood heavyweight said in a statement on Monday.
However, the MPAA stipulated that the letters in ‘Lee Daniels’ must be at least 75 percent the size of ‘The Butler.’

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is not new to awkward film titles as his 2009 film – Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire – will attest.
Earlier this month, the 53-year-old director penned an emotional letter to Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara asking him to drop the lawsuit.

‘[Working on this film] is the proudest moment of my professional career. I am heartbroken as I write this letter,’ Daniels wrote.

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‘If we were to change the title a mere six weeks before we open, it would most certainly hurt the film by limiting the number of people who would ultimately see this important story.’
The Weinstein Company’s film – due out August 16 – is based on the true story of Cecil Gaines, who worked for eight different White House presidents over 50 years.

The historical drama stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, John Cusack, and Robin Williams.

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