Anthony McCarten, screenwriter for the 2019 Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,”GK Films, the production company, was accused of not paying him what he owed in a fresh lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Nov. 10.
McCarten, who is the sole writer to be credited in the film’s production, claims that his contract allows him to an “amount equal to 5% of 100% of the ‘Net Proceeds,’”Which the contract required were to be “computed, determined and payable in accordance with Company’s[!] standard definition in connection with the Picture (subject to good faith negotiation, including any rider to the standard definition that Company customarily provides.”
Filmed on a budget for $55 million “Bohemian Rhapsody”McCarten claimed that McCarten’s lawsuit was not successful. McCarten went on to earn over $900 million in worldwide earnings. “five points have not paid out a single dollar, because the Picture is $51 million in deficit-at least according to the accounting statements issued by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.”
McCarten’s lawsuit says that according to his contract, the amount he is owed would be determined according to GK Films’ own standards. However, the statements he’s received ruling out any payout from the film “appear to be based on Fox’s ‘Defined Net Proceeds’ definition, rather than GK Films’ standard ‘Net Proceeds’ definition, as modified through good faith negotiation,”According to the suit.
According to the suit, “all of McCarten’s Contingent Box Office Bonuses paid out” due to the film’s historic box office success; despite this, the suit says, Fox repeatedly informed McCarten that the film was in deficit.
In the suit, it is speculated that GK Films had never been defined of “net proceeds,”And it didn’t “have any intention of developing such a definition, because it had no intention”We were able to determine what McCarten owed us.
GK Films are not the only ones named in the lawsuit. WGAW, Inc. is also named. This California-based company was also named in the lawsuit. It has a Santa Monica, California address, and also serves as GK Films contact information. “Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that GK Films transacts business through WAGW, shares offices with WAGW, employs the same employees and officers, and has the same principal,”According to the suit. “Accordingly, in doing the acts alleged herein, WAGW, Inc. was acting as the agent, principal, employee, or alter ego of GK Films.”
GK Films is accused of breaching contract, breaching the implied covenant of good faith, fair dealing, and what amounts shady accounting. McCarten wants monetary damages to be determined in court. “judicial declaration of the parties’ contractual rights and duties in connection with the Writer’s Agreement alleged herein,” and a full accounting of the film’s proceeds. He requests coverage for court costs, prejudgment interests, and any other relief that the court may determine.
GK Films didn’t immediately respond to a request from.
Pamela Chelin contributed this post.