Beatty's Dick Tracy flick faces legal minefield

Dick Tracy isn’t on his way – at least not to movie theatres any time soon - as Warren Beatty plans for a new Tracy flick may be scuppered by legal action.

Beatty wants to make a new movie featuring the comic book detective but has been thwarted by Tribune Media Services, which claims control over Tracy’s character.

Beatty, in response, has sued the Chicago-based company, saying Tribune violated a complex agreement regarding the Tracy rights.

Under the 1985 agreement, Beatty took control of the Tracy character from Tribune but was required to give it back at the company’s request under several conditions and following a two-year notification process.

Beatty gave the rights to The Walt Disney Co and in 1990 starred in and produced “Dick Tracy” for Disney.

In 2002, according to Beatty’s lawsuit, Tribune took back control of Tracy and notified Disney – but not through the process outlined in the agreement. Disney rejected Tribune’s claim and gave Beatty back most of the rights this month, his attorney Bertram Fields said.