Variety reports that Robert Rodriguez's departure from the Directors Guild of America to co-direct the hard-boiled comic book SIN CITY with creator Frank Miller has jeopardized him being about to helm A PRINCESS OF MARS because of Paramount's agreement to employ only DGA directors. Rodriguez is refusing to back down because of his passion for SIN CITY and for working with Frank Miller, who apparently has refused anyone rights to his comic book unless he is signed on as co-director.

The DGA gives waivers for co-directors, though rarely. According to the DGA Associate National Executive Director Warren Adler (per DGA's website) "it is a difficult waiver to get for directing feature films and dramatic television. It must be proven that the two can direct as a unit. They aren’t permitted to divide up the work but must function together on everything.” Most of the waivers have went to siblings like Andy and Larry Wachowski (THE MATRIX trilogy), Bobby and Peter Farrelly (DUMB AND DUMBER, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY) and Albert and Allen Hughes (MENACE II SOCIETY, FROM HELL).

It’s understandable the need for the DGA to protect a very important credit. Just look at how the screenwriter's credit has been weakened with every first-time Hollywood hack claiming "A film by" on movie posters. Regardless, it seems a bit ridiculous that filmmakers can't break up or share directing responsibilities in a way they deem fit for a project. The DGA co-director credit should be revised to allow unique directing collaborations and cases such as SIN CITY where Frank Miller just wants some control over his creation and Rodriguez is happy to oblige.