But this being Hollywood and all, he probably never will:

It seems that Saw is turning into a horror for Cary Elwes‘ bank account.

The blood-soaked movie, which also starred Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover and Monica Potter, was made for just $1.2 million but grossed a whopping $102.9 million worldwide and has been a solid seller on DVD. Elwes says he’s gotten peanuts for his efforts while his costars have made millions, and he’s taken his beef to the courts. […]

Elwes claims he was promised “favored nations” status among the cast and was guaranteed at least 1 percent of the producers’ net profits. He also alleges that, during a September 2004 press junket for the film, producer Mark Burg told Elwes he “would make more money [on Saw] than he had ever made before.”

Alas, he has not. Elwes says he only received a salary of $2,587.20 for his work on the film followed by a $53,275 bonus. […]

The suit claims that Glover is getting 2 percent of gross profits, while Potter has banked more than $250,000 in additional compensation.

Lawyers for the defendants aren’t buying Elwes’ argument. Attorney Martin D. Singer told the Los Angeles Times that the suit “clearly has no merit” and points out that Elwes was never forced to make the movie.

Another actor gets to ride the Hollywood “net profit” donkey.

Giddy up, Cary!

He sure is. If you think you can use 50 Cent’s “good looks, ‘gangsta’ image and hard knocks success story” for free to peddle crappy cars you’ve got another thing coming:

Back in the day when young drug dealer 50 Cent had a beef, he’d settle it gangsta style. But the old days are long gone and now rapper Curtis Jackson has trademark attorneys do his dirty work for him. In the below complaint filed Friday in Pennsylvania federal court, 50 accuses a Philadelphia area car dealer of using a newspaper ad with a picture of him and the tagline “JUST LIKE 50 SAYS!” to shill Dodge Magnums. The 30-year-old artist, who is described in the filing as “known for his good looks, ‘gangsta’ image and hard knocks success story” is seeking more than $1 million for the trademark hijacking.

Ka-Ching and Bling Bling!

I pity the fool who steps on Sony’s block and tries to lure their prized sequel hoes away with claims of ownership:

A film company wants a federal court to declare it can make a movie based on the character of “Zorro” despite objections by Sony Pictures Entertainment, the movie studio behind the 1998 film “The Mask of Zorro.” […]

In the complaint, Sobini claims that in 2000 it acquired the rights to the 1919 Johnston McCulley book “The Curse of Capistrano,” in which the swashbuckling masked avenger made his debut, and is entitled to produce “Zorro 2110,” a futuristic spin on “Zorro.”

The lawsuit comes in response to a cease-and-desist letter from Sony Pictures, asserting it owns the exclusive license to develop and distribute all films and television programs based on “Zorro,” said attorney Bruce Isaacs, who is representing Sobini.

The Sony letter has made it difficult for the Sobini production to proceed, Isaacs said.

I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that’s the purpose of a ‘cease-and-desist’.

Yeah, what could have been the beginning of a new, ground-breaking trend to please the beloved moviegoing audience at large is, unfortunately, nothing more than a legal slap on the wrist for making up movie critics for crappy movies:

Sony Pictures Entertainment must pay $1.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the studio of citing a fake movie critic in ads for several films.

Moviegoers who saw the films “Vertical Limit,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “The Animal,” “Hollow Man” or “The Patriot” during their original theater runs must file a claim to be eligible for a $5 per ticket reimbursement, lawyer Norman Blumenthal said Tuesday.

And please also note that if you’ve seen all five, Amy Pascal will add you to her Christmas list.