‘Yellowjackets’ Lawsuit Claims Showtime Series Stole Idea From 2015 Film

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As a seasoned cinephile who has traversed the treacherous landscapes of cinematic history, I must say that the ongoing legal saga between Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” and the 2015 film “Eden” has piqued my interest. While the similarities between these two survival tales are indeed striking, it is not uncharted territory in the realm of storytelling.

Yesterday morning, Showtime’s popular horror series “Yellowjackets” was hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit. This is because several aspects of the show appear to closely resemble the 2015 film “Eden.” Despite receiving positive reviews when it premiered in 2021 and planning for its third season, the potential legal issues might disrupt the promising trajectory of “Yellowjackets,” which revolves around a soccer team stranded in survival mode. The story is set to unfold over at least two more seasons, but the looming legal trouble could significantly impact its future.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Eden Film Production has brought a lawsuit in the federal court of New York against both Showtime and Lionsgate. They allege copyright infringement due to many detailed similarities between the series Yellowjackets and the suspenseful survival epic Eden.

How Simliar Are ‘Eden’ And ‘Yellowjackets’?

Both narratives share a chilling account of soccer players trapped in the wilderness after a plane crash, forced to take extreme actions like cannibalism to survive. While “Eden” was launched in 2015 and generally received unfavorable criticisms, the premiere season of “Yellowjackets,” which debuted in 2021, garnered remarkable praise, including Emmy nominations and impressive viewership numbers on streaming platforms. The lawsuit pointed out several similarities between the two plots, asserting:

In both stories, those who have managed to live through adversity – such as players, coaches, and others – find themselves in a battle for existence. They face not only the brutal conditions, dwindling supplies leading to hunger, and the psychological strain of increasing isolation due to encroaching darkness within them, but also rising tensions, shifting allegiances, hidden truths unveiled, and moral compasses tested, creating ambiguity between righteousness and wickedness.

It appears that Eden Film Production is trying to obtain payment for any damages, along with a formal order to stop the filming of Yellowjackets permanently, according to reports.

However, despite the similarities between Eden and Yellowjackets, there are also several vital differences — as well as a real-life inspiration behind both stories. Where Eden depicts members of a men’s national soccer team returning home from a World Cup match, Yellowjackets follows a girl’s high school soccer team instead. And while both stories include elements of survival, including cannibalism, Yellowjackets stumbles into the realm of the supernatural and the mysterious, with numerous ongoing questions plaguing the show’s fans.

What a Lawsuit Could Mean for the Future of Yellowjackets

Beyond doubt, the notion of plane crash survivors resorting to cannibalism in a bid to stay alive isn’t a new concept. A notable instance is the Uruguayan rugby team’s plane crash in the Andes Mountains back in 1972. In this dire situation, survivors were left with no choice but to consume their deceased comrades due to injuries or harsh weather conditions. This harrowing tale has been recounted and reimagined in various movies throughout history, making it plausible that both “Eden” and “Yellowjackets” drew inspiration from this account.

Showtime and Lionsgate have not yet responded to the lawsuit, but it’s unlikely that the third season of Yellowjackets will be delayed, given that the show’s creators have already hinted at a release date early in 2025. As for subsequent seasons, a potential legal battle could cause some delays with filming and production, but the lawsuit itself seems unlikely to have any serious effect on the future of Yellowjackets. Although the series does bear some initial resemblance to Eden, the direction Yellowjackets takes in later episodes ends up differentiating it starkly from the 2015 film.

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2024-11-16 03:33