Deadline is this reporting a quite remarkable story concerning 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with news that the producers, writers and director are suing Fortune Star Media Ltd, the rights holders of the original three Turtles films, as well as Warner Bros.
Producers Kim Dawson, Gary Propper and the heir to Graham Cottle, as well as director Steve Barron and film scribes Bobby Herbeck and Todd Langen are suing the rights holder 22-years after the release of the first film for damages in excess of $3.175 million. The money, the half-dozen plaintiffs say, is net profits owed to then for the original film as well as the two sequels, released in 1991 and 1993 respectively. Warner Bros., who have now taken over original distributor New Line Cinema, is referred to in the suit, though the studio is not a named defendant in the claim.
“PLAINTIFFS are informed and believe and based thereon allege that Warner Bros is and has been warner-bros__130912132941aware that FORTUNE STAR has systematically, knowingly and intentionally withheld accountings and payments to PLAINTIFFS of PLAINTIFFS’ portion of proceeds Warner Bros. has sent to FORTUNE STAR and that Warner Bros. will, in all likelihood continue to do so,” the multi-claim complaint says, which you can view here courtesy of Deadline.
The lawsuit does not include any of the subsequent film versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, including the 2007 animated film, the recent Michael Bay-produced reboot and its upcoming sequel. The plaintiffs are reportedly seeking a jury trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTcdL3-dh2c
Originally published July 16, 2015. Updated November 29, 2022.
