Dave Franco, Alison Brie, WME Hit With Idea Theft Lawsuit Over ‘Together’

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The creators and vendors associated with the movie “Together” are currently facing legal accusations, claiming they copied the concept of an upcoming body horror romance film that became a surprising success at the Sundance Film Festival.

In a court case submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, StudioFest asserts that actors Dave Franco and Alison Brie declined an opportunity to feature in the 2023 film “Better Half,” which StudioFest financed and holds the rights to. According to StudioFest, their intention was allegedly to create a similar movie alongside another WME client, while also capitalizing on a shared premise: a supernatural event causing a couple’s bodies to merge together in both productions.

The following individuals and entities are mentioned within the lawsuit: Worldwide Motion Enterprises (WME), accused of aiding copyright infringement; actors-turned-producers James Franco and Brie Larson; Michael Shanks, the writer and director of Together; and Neon, the distributor that purchased the film’s rights for a record $17 million at Sundance and has scheduled a theatrical release in August.

In 2019, Patrick Phelan authored the “Better Half” screenplay, which StudioFest later optioned, as stated in the lawsuit. Later on, a casting director associated with the film emailed talent agents from WME (William Morris Endeavor), proposing a $20,000 offer for the lead roles to both Franco and Brie. The full script of the movie was included in this email, according to the court documents.

Following the rejection of the offer, StudioFest chose to continue with the filming process. The completed movie was released in 2023 but generated only modest interest. In a subsequent lawsuit, Better Half producers claimed they were left stunned and dismayed when they viewed Together at Sundance earlier this year.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Franco mentioned that he swiftly agreed to produce and act in the film ‘Together’ following a meeting organized by WME between him and Shanks. Later, Brie, who had been observing the discussions from afar, became involved after Franco shared the script with her. As Brie’s representative stated, “I received a call from my agent saying, ‘Hey, Dave wants to be part of this film.'” Shanks then explained, “I was puzzled as I asked, ‘What are you referring to?’ He replied, ‘Dave has read the script and he likes it. His wife Alison also approves. How would you feel about both of them joining the project?’

Franco mentioned, “As soon as I read the [Together] script, I turned to Alison and suggested, ‘I believe we should perform in this one together,’ since the characters had been companions for more than a decade. I thought our real-life bond would suit that relationship perfectly.

The lawsuit emphasizes that the films revolve around a pair who, symbolizing codependency, undergo a literal body fusion. Both stories conclude identically, featuring them playing the very same Spice Girls vinyl record during a dance sequence where they come to terms with their situations, according to the complaint.

Dan Miller, legal representative of StudioFest, states in the lawsuit that both main characters have careers with significant similarities. Specifically, in both stories, Character A is a teacher while Character B is an aspiring artist seeking recognition.

In another instance, the characters are symbolically joined, much like twinned creatures, serving as a precursor to events, and a scene involving them where they mysteriously bond physically below, all in an effort to conceal this oddity from someone on standby.

The statement in question says that this isn’t a common comedic device but rather a precise, artistic decision. Both pieces use an identical visual technique, showing only the minor character’s feet visible from beyond the door, to frame the scene. The defendants employed the same elements of awkward physical connection, necessity for concealment, and the romantic undertone of the impending outsider to create a similar atmosphere.

Miller points out that the “resemblances between these two pieces are astounding, almost unexplainable without invoking some level of intent or coincidence.

Under his helm, Shanks is making his first foray into feature directing, following the success of his short film, “Rebooted”, and a highly-regarded script titled “Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel” on the Blacklist.

OR

For the first time as a feature director, Shanks is stepping up after receiving acclaim for his short film “Rebooted” and his screenplay “Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel” which made it onto the Blacklist.

OR

With his debut in feature directing, Shanks has risen to the occasion following the success of his short film “Rebooted” and a well-received script titled “Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel”, which was listed on the Blacklist.

Under U.S. Copyright law, it’s not the underlying concepts – such as a motley crew of individuals with distinct talents uniting to execute a daring scheme – that receive protection, but rather the way those ideas are presented. In the case of Showtime Networks and Lionsgate’s Entertainment One, a court dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit concerning their show Yellowjacket. The reasoning behind this dismissal was that certain similarities were common themes found in many survival thrillers, including the demise of a head coach and the rescue of his two children, efforts to break free from isolation, and the emergence of rival factions among survivors. However, courts have previously ruled that specific enough resemblances between two works can be subject to jury consideration.

WME, Neon, Franco and Brie didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

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2025-05-13 20:55