Hot on the heels of the shock news that Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over Black Widow, Gerard Butler has become the latest Hollywood star to file suit – although this one doesn’t relate to any COVID-release shake-up, but rather unpaid backend compensation from the hit 2013 action film Olympus Has Fallen.
According to Variety, Butler has filed a lawsuit against Nu Image/Millennium Films arguing that domestic and foreign box office receipts were underreported, along with producers receipts, which has ultimately left him out of pocket to the tune of around $10 million.
“Producers have earned tens of millions of dollars from Olympus, but refuse to pay Butler a penny of the grosses and profits promised to him in the parties’ agreement,” the lawsuit alleges. “Butler refuses to tolerate Defendants’ misrepresentations and other wrongful conduct. Butler worked with Defendants to create a highly successful movie franchise. He demands his fair share.”
Olympus Has Fallen grossed $170 million worldwide upon its release back in 2013 and spawned two sequels – London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen – both of which saw Butler reprising his role as Secret Service agent Mike Banning.
It was also announced back in November that Butler is set to reunite with Angel Has Fallen director Ric Roman Waugh for a fourth film, titled Night Has Fallen. Whether this lawsuit will have any impact on that project, we shall have to wait and see.
