Over the past couple of weeks, we brought you the news that Relativity Media had hired director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) to direct their reboot of The Crow, and that actor Bradley Cooper (Limitless, The Hangover Part II) had begun talks with the studio about starring in the film as Eric Draven.

Now, Deadline reports that The Weinstein Company has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Kavanaugh and his company Relativity Media over the distribution rights to the movie. The Weinsteins distributed the original film at Miramax back in 1994. Bert Fields, the lawyer repping the Weinsteins, claims that there’s “a written contract signed by everybody” which gives the Weinstein brothers the worldwide distribution rights to the film.

Fields says,

“Mr. Kavanaugh was not going to honor that contract. Apparently, he’s going to sell these rights to others. He made a bunch of threats. Some people may submit to that kind of arrogant conduct, but we’re not going to do it. If anybody tries to buy these distribution rights in The Crow , they are buying nothing but a lawsuit and they will get sued.”

Relativity Media has released the following statement in response:

“This is yet another typical litigation stunt from the Weinsteins who have a long history of threatening law suits with the sole purpose of intimidation. If served, Relativity will seek immediate dismissal. While we expect these types of antics from the Weinsteins, we are shocked that a lawyer of Mr. Fields’ caliber would make such false, reckless and intentionally harmful statements to the press about Relativity and Mr. Kavanaugh. We intend to seek appropriate remedies for this misconduct. Clearly this is a feeble attempt to create a press stir and a malicious effort to interfere with Relativity’s development of the project.”

[The Shakedown]

Sadly, this doesn’t mean the project, or any future remakes are off the table. What it does mean is that it could prevent Bradley Cooper from signing on to the lead role, for fear of being mixed up with a troubled production. And, it could also mean that the Weinsteins may end up filing an injunction to prevent production and/or release of the remake until all legal matters are settled.

I truly wish that Relativity would take this as a sign and drop the project. Since Brandon Lee‘s legacy obviously means nothing to them, maybe the mountain of legal wrangling and court costs will be more of a deterrent.

“Guess it’s not a good day to be a bad guy” – Eric Draven

The Crow is slated to hit theaters in 2011.