Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence’s Netflix Movie is in Serious Legal Issues Over Copyright Infringement
A writer named William Collier filed a lawsuit against Adam McKay, his production company Hyperobject Industries, and Netflix, alleging that the Leonardo DiCaprio movie, Don’t Look Up, which as a matter of fact, received four Academy Award nominations, including one for best original screenplay, had eerily similar plot points to his novel “Stanley’s Comet” written in 2007 which was then published under the name In Extremis, Two Novels. He is thus suing for copyright infringement.
Leonardo DiCaprio starrer Don’t Look Up Got Netflix Sued for Copywrite Infringement!
William Collier initiated a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, this Wednesday against Adam McKay, his production company Hyperobject Industries, and Netflix. The author claims that back in 2007, he sent an email containing the text of his novel “Stanley’s Comet” to his daughter, who was working at the Mosaic Media division of Jimmy Miller Entertainment at the time for their consideration of the material as a potential project. And that is where the trouble began.
Jimmy Miller Entertainment was in fact managing Adam McKay at that particular time and had a history of collaboration with the director. Therefore, the writer of “Stanley’s Comet” alleges that the 2021 Leonardo DiCaprio starrer copied elements and plot points from his novel, which he published in 2013.
How Is Don’t Look Up Similar to the William Collier Novel?
The lawsuit provides a detailed description of various plot points, outlining specific elements and intricacies within the narrative structure that allegedly bear resemblance between “Stanley’s Comet” now known as In Extremis, Two Novels, and the Leonardo DiCaprio-led film. It alleges as reported by Variety,
“The plot of both works is practically identical,–Low level scientists find a large comet that is headed straight towards Earth and is going to destroy the Earth and wipe out all humanity in a matter of time. In conveying this message to the public, the scientists go on a morning talk show (which undermines the urgency and nature of the matter) which then causes most people to be unbothered by it. Even the presidents and government leaders downplay the comet’s apocalyptic effect. Eventually, the comet is visible to the citizens of planet Earth and mayhem ensues as the comet is rapidly approaching.”
Collier now seeks at least $5 million in damages. The lawsuit further claims inconsistencies in McKay’s various interviews regarding the story’s origin and also highlighted David Sirota’s astonishment at receiving a story credit for merely mentioning a comment on climate change to McKay to double down on the claim. In short, it is a mess, no further updates are available regarding the situation.
