Assist actually
unbiased journalism
Our mission is to ship unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds energy to account and exposes the reality.
Whether or not $5 or $50, each contribution counts.
Assist us to ship journalism with out an agenda.
The property of ER creator Michael Crichton is suing Warner Bros Tv, accusing their upcoming present The Pitt of being an unauthorized reboot of the hit emergency room drama.
Crichton’s property, led by his widow Sherri, say they had been in discussions with the studio about rebooting ER however failed to achieve an settlement.
They’ve accused govt producer John Wells of a “private betrayal,” arguing within the lawsuit that he and star Noah Wyle, who performed Dr John Carter in ER, dreamed up The Pitt after the Crichton property blocked plans to deliver again the unique present.
The lawsuit states: “The Pitt is ER. It’s not like ER. It’s not type of ER. It’s not form of ER. It’s ER with the very same govt producer, author, star, manufacturing corporations, studio and community because the deliberate ER reboot.”
Warner Bros Tv shortly responded to the go well with, calling it “baseless.”
“The lawsuit filed by the Crichton Property is baseless, as The Pitt is a brand new and authentic present,” the studio mentioned in an announcement to Variety. “Any suggestion in any other case is fake, and Warner Bros. Tv intends to vigorously defend towards these meritless claims.”
The Pitt might be set in Pittsburgh, whereas ER was set in Chicago. Together with Wells and Wyle, showrunner R Scott Gemmill can be an ER alum. All three are named as defendants within the go well with.
Crichton, who died from most cancers in 2008, was a wildly profitable author who additionally created Jurassic Park and Westworld. This observe file enabled him to safe a “frozen rights” provision in his contract for ER, which prohibits Warner Bros from making sequels, remakes or spinoffs with out the consent of his property.
In an announcement to The Related Press, a spokesperson for Sherri Crichton mentioned: “If Warner Bros can do that to Michael Crichton, one of many trade’s most profitable and prolific creators who made the studio billions over the course of their partnership, no creator is secure.
“Whereas litigation isn’t the popular plan of action, contracts should be enforced, and Michael Crichton’s legacy should be protected.”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
The Crichton property filed the lawsuit on Tuesday (August 27) in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, and is asking the decide to concern an injunction that might drive the studio to halt manufacturing on The Pitt. They’re additionally looking for punitive and compensatory damages.
