Showtime Networks and Lionsgate’s Entertainment One have been embroiled in a legal battle accusing them of ripping off a Ron Howard movie.
In violation of copyright The case In a filing Nov. 14 in New York federal court, a company that owns the rights to the survival thriller alleges “strikingly similar elements” in the work. Both follow a football team whose members begin exhibiting cult-like behavior and are forced to resort to cannibalism after crash-landing in a remote location.
Eden, starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney, was released in September, but the film’s copyright was registered in 2015. The Showtime sensation premiered in 2021 to critical acclaim. Its second season opener became the studio’s most-streamed debut of all time, attracting nearly 2 million viewers across all platforms.
The lawsuit claims that the “most important elements” have been “copied.” Like the Emmy-nominated series, a top football team begins with a plane crash, with the survivors initially banding together to survive the harsh conditions before forming factions. This is also followed by the emergence of a charismatic, demagogic leader who incites violence and a team with a coach, a trainer, the head coach’s child and a member of the opposite sex on the team.
“In both works, survivors, including various players and coaches, among others, face harsh elements for their lives, hunger through dwindling resources, and psychological isolation in the form of growing darkness within themselves. Loss must be fought.” the complaint said. “As they struggle to survive, tensions rise, alliances are formed, dark secrets are revealed, and moral boundaries are pushed to their limits – blurring the line between good and evil.”
The lawsuit asserts that coaches from the film and show are victims of similar traumatic events, including murder, genocide and death. According to the complaint, the two works are a mix of suspense, horror, drama and dark comedy. And while there are moments of intense action and conflict, the overall pacing is “methodical, focusing on the characters’ struggles and their growing relationships,” the lawsuit alleges, noting that the slow pace The method allows the audience to express empathy. Fully appreciate the characters and the deteriorating situation.
Additionally, according to the complaint, both works emphasize themes of survival and adaptation, morality, cultural mindset, self-discovery and the fragility of civilization.
Eden Film Productions, which brought the copyright infringement claim, is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent the makers of the series from further exploitation. Showtime and Lionsgate did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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