The creators of John Wick have been hit with a huge copyright lawsuit as a screenwriter has claimed that his own script bears “strikingly similar” elements to that the Hollywood films
The creators of John Wick have been hit with a huge copyright lawsuit. Production company Lionsgate, along with Thunder Road Films, and scribe Derek Kolstad, are behind the hit film series, which stars Keanu Reeves as a former hitman.
But now, writer, J.R. Wicker has alleged that the initial film, which was released in 2014, and its sequel bear “strikingly and substantially similar” elements to his own screenplay, which was titled Blood for Escobar.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit reads: “In both works, the antagonist gets away and is finished by a bullet later at a different location, a location where guards are down, a public location, at night, drinking.”
Wicker also alleges that Kolstad saw a copy of his screenplay through Abstract Entertainment founder Mike Goldberg, who, at the time, was a judge in a competition in which his own script was submitted for entry.
According to the outlet, Wicker, who has previously penned low-budget finds like Father’s Day and Sick People, is seeking $10million in profits from the franchise. The suit alleges that there are several similarities between Wicker’s script and Kolstad’s Scorn, which eventually became John Wick.
Wicker has also claimed that Kolstad may have obtained his script from UTA agent Charlie Ferraro, who eventually landed the deal for John Wick to enter production, and that he himself sent the agency copies of Blood for Escobar when they were requested.
It was previously confirmed that John Wick Chapter 5 was officially on the way, and would follow on from the previous four films, all directed by Chad Stahelski.
There is no official release date as of now and no confirmed start date of filming, whilst plot details remain under lock and key, along with the general storyline.
Aside from Reeves, no confirmed returning cast have been announced and any other actors are speculative right now. Lionsgate film head Adam Fogelson recently told Business Insider: “Chad and Keanu have an idea that they think can be really exciting.
“There are a lot of steps, so I wouldn’t want to put a timeline on it. But in terms of finding a core idea, they seem to have landed on something that they are excited about, and now we’ll see.”
Around the time of the fourth film’s release, Hollywood star Keanu explained why he liked to return to the part of the former hitman over and over again.
He told Metro: “I try really hard, but with John, you have to try just a little bit harder. I like his humour, I like his will, I like his grief and it’s really fun to play him in these films, these films are fun.”
The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.
Like this story? F or more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
