Movies

ificandream

(10,507 posts) Fri Nov 3, 2023, 07:59 PM Nov 2023

'Bohemian Rhapsody' Screenwriter Settles Profits Lawsuit Over Alleged Bait-and-Switch

By Winston Cho/The Hollywood Reporter

Bohemian Rhapsody screenwriter Anthony McCarten has settled a lawsuit alleging he hasn’t seen his share of profits from the hit Freddie Mercury biopic despite it earning more than $900 million at the box office.

McCarten on Oct. 31 moved to dismiss the lawsuit against producer GK Films. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.

The two-time Academy Award nominee (Darkest Hour, The Theory of Everything) received the sole “screenplay by” credit on the movie. Under his deal with GK Films, he’s entitled to “[a]n amount equal to 5% of 100%” of net proceeds, which was defined as the company’s standard definition, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2021.

But McCarten alleged he hasn’t gotten any profits, with accounting statements issued by Fox’s 20th Century Studios showing a $51 million deficit for the movie. He took issue with the computation of net proceeds under Fox’s standard definition rather than GK Films’. As a result, distribution fees, which are typically deducted, ate away at his share.

Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/bohemian-rhapsody-screenwriter-settles-profits-lawsuit-1235636661/

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

'Bohemian Rhapsody' Screenwriter Settles Profits Lawsuit Over Alleged Bait-and-Switch (Original Post) ificandream Nov 2023 OP

I remember some years back reading an article about net points. Xavier Breath Nov 2023 #1

The old Hollywood accounting peppertree Nov 2023 #2

Winston Groom, author of Forest Grump, had a similar experience. shrike3 Nov 2023 #3

'Remember,' a wise man once told me: 'Gross, not net' peppertree Nov 2023 #4

Yep. Winston said he learned the hard way. shrike3 Nov 2023 #5

Xavier Breath

(5,005 posts)

1. I remember some years back reading an article about net points.

Reply to ificandream (Original post)

Fri Nov 3, 2023, 08:20 PM

Nov 2023

There were several stars who had taken a net points deal, only to get burned when the studios pulled their accounting shenanigans. Someone in the industry, it may have been an agent, said that accountants can make even the most successful movie look like a money-loser, so talent would be wise to steer clear of such deals. Again, this was some years ago, so I'm surprised that people are still signing off on that sort of deal.

peppertree

(22,850 posts)

2. The old Hollywood accounting

Reply to Xavier Breath (Reply #1)

Fri Nov 3, 2023, 10:11 PM

Nov 2023

Remember the Lord (some say, Bored) of the Rings franchise?

The Tolkiens didn't see a penny of the (billions) in profits, thanks to - you guessed it: Hollywood accounting.

Or rather, Hollywood magic.