Latest news with #StudioFest
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Franco & Alison Brie Accused Of Copyright Infringement In ‘Together' Suit
Along with Michael Shanks, the writer and director of upcoming body horror film Together, actor-producers Alison Brie and Dave Franco have been named as defendants in a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement. Other defendants in the suit, filed Tuesday, include WME, which reps Shanks, Brie and Franco, and the film's distributor Neon, which snapped up rights out of the Sundance Film Festival for $17 million in the biggest deal this year out of Park City. More from Deadline First Sundance Deal Near As Neon Emerges From Bidding Battle Near $15M+ WW Deal For 'Together': The Dish 'Together' Trailer: Alison Brie & Dave Franco Take Codependency To A New Level In Neon Body Horror Marvel Studios 'Ironheart' Actress Dominique Thorne Signs With WME The lawsuit (read it here) alleges that Together is a 'blatant rip-off' of Better Half, a 2023 indie written and directed by Patrick Henry Phelan. Phelan, a former New York assistant director and USC MFA graduate, made the film as his feature debut through the production company StudioFest, the sole plaintiff in the suit. A spokesperson for WME called the lawsuit 'frivolous and without merit, adding, 'The facts in this case are clear and we plan to vigorously defend ourselves.' We've also reached out to Neon for comment. According to the filing, the script for Better Half was pitched to Franco and Brie in August 2020, when a casting director sent the material to their agents at WME and approached them for the lead roles. It's alleged that Brie and Franco rejected the offer because 'they wanted to produce the film themselves and have WME package the project with one of the agency's own writers.' StudioFest became aware that Franco and Brie were producing and starring in Together in January 2025, ahead of the film's Sundance launch. 'Together is a blatant rip-off of Better Half,' the suit states. 'Both works center around a couple who wake up to find their bodies physically fused together as a metaphor for codependency. The similarities do not end there. Defendants lifted wholesale creative elements, including but not limited to, plot, themes, characters, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, and sequence of events.' StudioFest is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further infringement of its copyright. Together follows a couple that wakes up after a bitter argument to discover their bodies have been inexplicably fused together, forcing them to confront the toxic codependency that binds them. The film is slated for release July 30. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Dave Franco, Alison Brie sued for copyright infringement over film 'Together'
At least they can face it together. Alison Brie and Dave Franco have been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over their upcoming film 'Together,' The Post can confirm. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, May 13, by production company StudioFest, which claimed that they pitched the script to Franco and Brie's agents at WME in 2020 but the real-life couple allegedly 'passed on the offer to star in the project.' 11 The real-life couple is being sued for alleged copyright infringement. WireImage Fast-forward to January 2025, when StudioFest 'learned that Franco and Brie were producing and starring in a virtually identical film entitled Together, written and directed by another WME client—Michael Shanks.' In the lawsuit obtained by The Post, the production company accused Brie, 42, and Franco, 39, of producing a 'blatant rip-off' of a 'Better Half,' a 2023 independent film written by Patrick Phelan and produced by Jess Jacklin and Charles Beale, which StudioFest claimed it had 'exclusive rights to develop, produce and exploit.' 11 According to the lawsuit, StudioFest sent a WME agent the script and offer for the couple to star in the film back in 2020. NEON 11 However, Dave Franco and Alison Brie 'passed on the offer to star in the project,' according to the lawsuit. NEON In the court documents, StudioFest's attorney, Dan Miller, pointed out what he claimed to be the 'striking similarities' between both films, including their alleged plot points and the main concept of a couple who 'wake up to find their bodies physically fused together as a metaphor for codependency.' 'My client's original work was stolen,' Miller told The Post on Wednesday. 'The similarities between the two works are staggering and defy any innocent explanation. 'We intend to hold the defendants accountable,' he added, 'and look forward to trial.' 11 'My client's original work was stolen,' StudioFest's attorney told The Post on Wednesday. NEON 11 It wasn't until January 2025 that StudioFest allegedly discovered the couple was starring in 'Together.' NEON 11 The horror film was shown at this year's Sundance Film Festival and reportedly sparked a massive bidding war. NEON Jacklin and Beale created StudioFest, per the documents; however, the company is the only plaintiff listed in the lawsuit. Brie and Franco, who married in March 2017, were allegedly approached to star in 'Better Half' after the casting director reportedly sent a script to the pair's agents at William Morris Endeavor on August 19, 2020 via email, per the lawsuit's exhibit reviewed by The Post. The following day, Franco's agent informed the casting director that 'Dave was going to pass but thank you for thinking of him.' According to the lawsuit, Brie also 'passed' on the offer. 11 The attorney claimed the flick is a 'blatant rip-off' to 'Better Half.' NEON 11 StudioFest's attorney listed what he claimed to be the 'striking similarities' between both films. NEON 'Together,' which hits theaters this summer, premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival. It was sold to Neon for 'approximately $17 million' following a bidding war. The newly filed lawsuit alleged that Brie and Franco 'rejected StudioFest's offer' for 'Better Half' because 'they wanted to produce the film themselves and have WME package the project with one of the agency's own writers.' 'In both 'Better Half' and 'Together,' the main characters struggle to navigate daily life as their physical attachment progresses and they start to control each other's body parts,' the suit charged while explaining the alleged 'blatant' similarities between the two horror flicks. 11 'Together' is set to be released this summer. NEON 'While at first they desperately search for ways to detach their bodies – from medical intervention to chainsaws – by the end, they resign themselves to their conjoined existence,' the court documents read. The suit also named WME, director/writer Michael Shanks, and Neon in the complaint. StudioFest is asking to be awarded damages in the amount that a jury sees fit, as well as attorney's fees, and more. 11 The pair married in 2017. NEON Brie and Franco previously discussed 'Together' during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter before it premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Franco said that he signed on to both produce and star in the movie after a meeting with Shanks. Brie added that she 'lurked in the shadows' of Franco and Shanks' discussion and only signed on after her husband shared the script with her. 11 WME has since called the lawsuit 'frivolous and without merit.' Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP 'I remember reading the script and immediately turning to Alison to say, 'I think we should act in this one together,' because the characters had been together for over a decade,' the 'Love Lies Bleeding' star said. 'I figured that our real-life relationship could lend itself well to that dynamic,' Franco added. WME, the couple's talent agency, has since called StudioFest's complaint against them, their clients and Shanks 'frivolous and without merit' in a statement to THR. 'The facts in this case are clear and we plan to vigorously defend ourselves,' the agency added. The Post has reached out to Brie and Franco's reps, as well as WME, for comment.
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Alison Brie and Dave Franco sued over $17 million film 'Together' for allegedly copying indie movie 'Better Half'
Actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco are facing a copyright infringement lawsuit over their upcoming film Together, which premiered at Sundance and was acquired by Neon for a reported $17 million. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, accuses Brie, Franco, and others of copying the 2023 indie film Better Half, citing shared plot points and thematic similarities. According to Variety, Better Half was written and directed by Patrick Henry Phelan and produced by StudioFest, the sole plaintiff. The film is a surreal romantic comedy about a couple who wake up physically fused after a one-night stand. In August 2020, a pitch for the project was sent to Franco and Brie's agents at WME, but was declined. The complaint alleges that Together not only replicates the central concept but also specific scenes, including one where the couple is joined at the genitals while trying to hide it from another character. Both films also reportedly end with the couple pulling out a vinyl copy of the Spice Girls' Spiceworld album as they accept their fate. Named defendants include Brie, Franco, WME, Neon, and writer-director Michael Shanks. StudioFest alleges the couple turned down the pitch in order to develop a similar project independently with a WME-affiliated writer. A WME spokesperson called the lawsuit 'frivolous and without merit,' adding that they plan to 'vigorously defend' against the claims. Together is scheduled for release on August 1.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Blatant rip-off': Hit Aussie film slapped with copyright lawsuit in US
The stars and director of the Australian-made horror movie Together have been sued in the US for allegedly 'blatantly ripping-off' an independent 2023 film. Filmmaker Michael Shanks, married stars Alison Brie (Community) and Dave Franco (21 Jump Street), their agency WME, and distributor Neon were served with a copyright infringement lawsuit on Tuesday (US time) over the film, which is set to open the Sydney Film Festival next month. The suit claims the concept of Together was stolen from Better Half, a satirical romcom directed by US filmmaker Patrick Henry Phelan. The suit, which was filed by Better Half 's production Company StudioFest, also accuses the Together team of copying other thematic elements, including a direct reference to Plato's Symposium, and other pivotal plot points. 'Both works end in the same way, with the couple pulling out a vinyl record of the Spice Girls album Spiceworld in the scene where they accept their fate,' the suit states. Loading According to the lawsuit, Phelan wrote the screenplay for Better Half in 2019. The script was allegedly pitched to Franco, Brie and the agency that represents them both, WME, in August 2020, and the two actors were offered roles in the film. However, Franco and his representatives reportedly rejected it. 'The script was shared in confidence and with the understanding that it would not be disclosed or used beyond the limits of the confidence without StudioFest's consent,' the suit claims.
The Age
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Blatant rip-off': Hit Aussie film slapped with copyright lawsuit in US
The stars and director of the Australian-made horror movie Together have been sued in the US for allegedly 'blatantly ripping-off' an independent 2023 film. Filmmaker Michael Shanks, married stars Alison Brie (Community) and Dave Franco (21 Jump Street), their agency WME, and distributor Neon were served with a copyright infringement lawsuit on Tuesday (US time) over the film, which is set to open the Sydney Film Festival next month. The suit claims the concept of Together was stolen from Better Half, a satirical romcom directed by US filmmaker Patrick Henry Phelan. The suit, which was filed by Better Half 's production Company StudioFest, also accuses the Together team of copying other thematic elements, including a direct reference to Plato's Symposium, and other pivotal plot points. 'Both works end in the same way, with the couple pulling out a vinyl record of the Spice Girls album Spiceworld in the scene where they accept their fate,' the suit states. Loading According to the lawsuit, Phelan wrote the screenplay for Better Half in 2019. The script was allegedly pitched to Franco, Brie and the agency that represents them both, WME, in August 2020, and the two actors were offered roles in the film. However, Franco and his representatives reportedly rejected it. 'The script was shared in confidence and with the understanding that it would not be disclosed or used beyond the limits of the confidence without StudioFest's consent,' the suit claims.
