Legendary, Warners Heading for Splitsville

Even though it may sound like news, the writing was on the wall for Warner Brothers Pictures and Legendary Pictures' 8 year partnership. According to Variety, Legendary has started talks with potential post-2013 suitors like Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures -- should next month's negotiation talks with WB fall through.

Thomas Tull's insistence that he be more creatively involved irked the studio heads (like release date input, script development and marketing), especially Jeff Robinov. The spat between Legendary and WB over profits made from The Dark Knight Rises (they got 25% as opposed to the 50% from The Dark Knight), as well as pulling out from films like Green Lantern and All You Need Is Kill. Not to mention the petty argument of claiming credit whenever a film hit it big.

It's not like WB will be hurting for money should Legendary leave the Burbank offices for one of its rivals, since they reupped a deal with Australia-based Village Roadshow Pictures last year after it gained a $1 billion restructure financing. Time will only tell whether WB and Legendary will kiss and make up or make a clean break.