MGM Pulls ‘Rollerball’ Ads After Judge Bars Campaign

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. said Wednesday that it has pulled television and radio advertisements linking its upcoming action film “Rollerball� to Universal Studios’ street-racing summer hit, “The Fast and the Furious.�

The move came after Universal took MGM to court, alleging that the rival studio was misleading the public by stating in ads that “Rollerball� was “from the film makers that brought you ‘The Fast and the Furious’ and ‘Die Hard.’�

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz issued a court order barring MGM from “stating or suggesting� in ads that anyone responsible for creative content of “The Fast and the Furious� also was responsible for “Rollerball.�

Although “Rollerball� director John McTiernan directed the 1988 blockbuster, “Die Hard,� the link to “The Fast and the Furious� was more of a stretch. John Pogue, co-writer of “Rollerball,� has an executive producer credit for “The Fast and the Furious.�

“Rollerball� is scheduled to open Feb. 8.

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Ann W. O’Neill