Self-Published Author Claims Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ Stole His Work

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As a seasoned moviegoer and someone who’s seen more legal battles unfold in Hollywood than I care to remember, I must say this latest lawsuit against Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up” is starting to feel like a recurring episode of a soap opera. It seems that every time we turn around, there’s another author claiming the movie stole their plot. This time it’s Darren Hunter with his self-published novel, “The Million Day Forecast.

The streamer and director Adam McKay find themselves back in a legal battle, this time concerning the 2021 movie . Previously, they faced accusations that the film’s plot was copied from the 2012 novel “Stanley’s Comet” by a self-published author. Now, another author has come forward claiming that the story was actually based on his self-published work. As they say, things tend to come in threes, so this might not be the end of these legal disputes.

In this latest case, Darren Hunter’s suit alleges that the popular Netflix film “Don’t Look Up,” known for its stellar cast and apocalyptic narrative, copied key elements such as plot, characters, and thematic aspects from the 2015 novel “The Million Day Forecast.” For those who might find a $5 million lawsuit against Mattel for emotional distress due to a Wicked doll packaging error excessive, Hunter is demanding a staggering $3 billion in compensation.

As stated by Larry Klayman, the attorney for the claimant, McKay and others involved in the filmmaking process are alleged to have shown “dishonesty and avarice” by taking credit for work that rightfully belongs to his client. In his opinion, this situation sadly illustrates some of the questionable practices prevalent within modern Hollywood. The lawsuit alleges that both stories contain similar themes: young, resilient female characters who warn the world about impending disasters. Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that these narratives are not original to the filmmakers in question.

Both the film and the book share essential aspects such as satirical political commentary with a dark humor, the struggle for collective action amidst impending peril, and apocalyptic undertones. This strong resemblance suggests that the movie may have borrowed significant literary elements from the book without first obtaining the author’s permission.

Does This Lawsuit Hold Any Weight?

The recent legal action against “Don’t Look Up” appears to be similarly vague as the previous one, with few distinctive details provided. Previously, a case was dismissed last month when a judge deemed the similarities between the movie and William Collier’s novel as too generic to pursue. This new lawsuit, consisting of 34 claims, encompasses various issues such as copyright infringement and breaches of Florida’s unfair trade practices law.

Regarding the author of the book, Hunter himself mentions on Amazon that his idea for writing the novel arose following an unexpected visit from an alleged extraterrestrial being who claimed to be from galaxy Centaurus A. Although Hunter published this book independently, he also asserted that he shared copies of it with several individuals and organizations in the entertainment industry.

If you find all of this seemingly untroubling for Netflix, consider the fact that Hunter’s lawyer is under suspension in Washington D.C. due to misconduct and faces a similar suspension in Florida, where the lawsuit was filed. Given these circumstances, it appears unlikely that the outcome of this lawsuit will differ from the previous one. Therefore, Netflix can remain at ease.

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2024-12-07 01:33