Blumhouse files lawsuit against Boss Level producers and Hulu over company’s work on Mel Gibson movie
Blumhouse Productions on Thursday sued the producers of the movie Boss Level and Hulu for $1.5 million in a breach of contract suit, claiming it wasn’t compensated for its work on the Mel Gibson movie Boss Level.
Blumhouse’s Jason Blum said in legal docs that his company was ‘swindled’ by the producers of the movie, who hired the company to ‘salvage’ a motion picture that had been previously characterized as ‘disappointing and lacking in commercial appeal,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter, which reviewed legal docs.
The motion picture, which features Gibson, Frank Grillo and Naomi Watts, did not sell at first, but Hulu bought it after the edits were made by Blumhouse to make it palatable to audiences, THR reported.
Face-off: Blumhouse Productions on Thursday sued the producers of the movie Boss Level and Hulu for $1.5 million in a breach of contract suit, claiming it wasn’t compensated for its work on the Frank Grillo-Mel Gibson movie Boss Level
Blumhouse named Meadow Williams and the companies Emmett Furla Oasis Films and The Fyzz Facility in its suit, according to the outlet.
Blumhouse said the named parties misappropriated ‘the fruits of Blumhouse’s creativity and labor for their own unlawful benefit while leaving Blumhouse high and dry.’
Blumhouse, which is represented by the Lavely & Singer firm’s Marty Singer and David Jonelis, said it paid costs of recuts that exceeded $126,000.
The production company said it agreed to a pact to ‘recut the picture’ and to ‘bring its ideas and creativity to the process for the action film,’ and that the named parties agreed to pay them five percent ‘of the license fee paid by such service, without deduction of any kind.’
Details: Blumhouse’s Jason Blum said in legal docs that his company was ‘swindled’ by the producers of the movie, who hired the company to ‘salvage’ a motion picture that was unmarketable. Blum was snapped last year in Hollywood
Grillo plays Roy Pulver in the film while Mel Gibson is in the role of Colonel Clive Ventor
Blumhouse said their recut of the film ‘contains a substantial amount of new material and unique elements’ they created, including key elements to the final sequence
Hulu initially passed on the film, and after it was recut, paid $11,750,000 to license the movie, Blumhouse said, adding that it is owed $587,500 for its services.
‘It was only as a result of Blumhouse’s valuable services that Hulu became interested in licensing the picture,’ the company said.
Blumhouse said their recut of the film ‘contains a substantial amount of new material and unique elements’ they created, including key elements to the final sequence.
Blumhouse said that numerous cease and desist orders have been sent to Hulu over the movie.