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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The screenwriter of the original "Road House" film sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and its parent company Amazon Studios Tuesday, alleging in Los Angeles federal court that his copyright claims were ignored by the entertainment entities during the creation of a remake of the 1989 film.
According to the filing, R. Lance Hill -- who uses the pen name David Lee Henry -- alleges that Amazon took no notice of his attempts to reclaim the rights for his 1986 screenplay as they prepared the remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, set for a March 21 launch on Amazon Prime Video.
The suit contends that Hill filed a petition with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2021, requesting that the copyright return to him after United Artists' claim was set to expire in November 2023. The suit further alleges that Amazon ignored his claims and proceeded with the film, using artificial intelligence to replicate the voices of actors during last year's months-long SAG-AFTRA strike as the film's completion deadline loomed.
An Amazon Studios representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hill's complaint claims the film was actually not completed until January, months after the copyright deadline had passed.
The suit seeks declaratory relief and aims to block distribution of the film.
The remake generated controversy for Amazon Studios when the film's director, Doug Liman, said he would boycott the release of his film due to the streamer's decision not to open the movie in theaters. The film is premiering at the SXSW film festival, but Liman has said he will not be in attendance.