This is a follow-up to our earlier articles “Left Behind author LaHaye sues ‘Left Behind—The Movie’ producers” and ““Left Behind” earns award and sparks a lawsuit.”

Cloud Ten Pictures Inc., producers of the Left Behind series of Christian-thriller films, announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement resolving the two lawsuits against it and co-producers on the “Left Behind” film series, Namesake Entertainment, filed by Timothy LaHaye, one of the authors of the Left Behind book series upon which the popular films are based. The settlement ends a legal dispute over the “Left Behind” film rights that began in 2000. CEO André van Heerden said,

“We are thrilled to finally have this behind us. While we received repeated judgments from the Courts that validated our rights, we were unable until now to finally put this lawsuit behind us.”

Tim LaHaye

The agreement reportedly resolves all disputes relating to the three films produced by Cloud Ten based upon the first and second books in the Left Behind series. The agreement also grants LaHaye an opportunity to remake the films based upon these book. Van Heerden commented,

“Cloud Ten was blessed with the opportunity to bring these stories, to life on the silver screen. We are very pleased that Reverend LaHaye will get the opportunity to make the films he envisions out of these beloved books.”

If LaHaye does not exercise his options to remake the films, then Cloud Ten will retain its current rights to make sequels to its “Left Behind” films.

All three films, “Left Behind: The Movie,” “Left Behind: Tribulation Force,” and “Left Behind: World at War,” are available on DVD and reportedly continue to be top sellers and are still available for church viewings through Cloud Ten “Church Cinemas.”

With the lawsuit behind them, Cloud Ten plans to get back into active production and distribution of Christian-themed films. “We’re releasing three new powerful films this year and are close to going into production on possibly another four for 2009,” says van Heerden.

Cloud Ten Pictures was founded in 1996 by brothers Peter and Paul Lalonde. Its 2000 release of “Left Behind: The Movie,” was the top-selling independent video of that year. Cloud Ten has produced and distributed 10 feature films and documentaries.

Official sites:

• Cloud Ten: cloudtenpictures.com
• Namesake Entertainment: namesakeentertainment.com
• Tim LaHaye: timlahaye.com
• Left Behind books: leftbehind.com