A self-published novelist is claiming Adam McKay ripped off a book he wrote for his 2021 Netflix movie Don’t Look Up in a new lawsuit.
William Collier claims that in 2007, he wrote a novel called Stanley’s Comet, which was later self-published in 2012. The suit describes Stanley’s Comet as a “dark comedy” about low-level NASA scientists who discover a giant comet hurtling towards Earth, but their attempts to warn the public about the danger are dismissed and downplayed by politicians and media figures.
Collier alleges that McKay had access to his book.
William Collier claims that in 2007, he wrote a novel called Stanley’s Comet, which was later self-published in 2012. The suit describes Stanley’s Comet as a “dark comedy” about low-level NASA scientists who discover a giant comet hurtling towards Earth, but their attempts to warn the public about the danger are dismissed and downplayed by politicians and media figures.
Collier alleges that McKay had access to his book.
- 12/8/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
An author claims that Netflix and writer-director Adam McKay took the plot and tone from his “strikingly similar” 2004 novel, and is suing for $5m in damages.
The 2021 satire Don’t Look Up saw writer-director Adam McKay and his collaborators nominated for four Academy Awards. But according to author William Collier, the story didn’t spring from McKay, but from a novel called Stanley’s Comet, which Collier wrote in 2004 and self-published eight years later.
Collier’s work is also about the discovery of a comet heading towards Earth, and also sees our planet’s population respond apathetically to the incoming threat. In fact, Collier believes that Stanley’s Comet and Don’t Look Up are so “strikingly similar” that the author’s suing McKay, Netflix and other parties involved with the film for a minimum of $5m.
According to Collier’s complaint, a copy of which has been obtained by The Hollywood Reporter,...
The 2021 satire Don’t Look Up saw writer-director Adam McKay and his collaborators nominated for four Academy Awards. But according to author William Collier, the story didn’t spring from McKay, but from a novel called Stanley’s Comet, which Collier wrote in 2004 and self-published eight years later.
Collier’s work is also about the discovery of a comet heading towards Earth, and also sees our planet’s population respond apathetically to the incoming threat. In fact, Collier believes that Stanley’s Comet and Don’t Look Up are so “strikingly similar” that the author’s suing McKay, Netflix and other parties involved with the film for a minimum of $5m.
According to Collier’s complaint, a copy of which has been obtained by The Hollywood Reporter,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
A writer who claims the 2021 comedy “Don’t Look Up” was substantially similar to his self-published novel is suing writer-director Adam McKay and Netflix for copyright infringement.
Author William Collier says that in 2007, he sent his daughter, who was working at Mosaic Media division Jimmy Miller Entertainment, an email with the text of his novel “Stanley’s Comet,” for the company to consider as material. Collier alleges that his novel had numerous themes and plot points in common with “Don’t Look Up,” which McKay is said to have written in 2019. Jimmy Miller Entertainment was McKay’s manager at the time and collaborated with him on films such as “Talladega Nights.”
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California on Wednesday. Collier is named as plaintiff, while McKay, his production company Hyperobject Industries and Netflix are defendants.
“The plot of both works is practically identical,” the lawsuit alleges.
Author William Collier says that in 2007, he sent his daughter, who was working at Mosaic Media division Jimmy Miller Entertainment, an email with the text of his novel “Stanley’s Comet,” for the company to consider as material. Collier alleges that his novel had numerous themes and plot points in common with “Don’t Look Up,” which McKay is said to have written in 2019. Jimmy Miller Entertainment was McKay’s manager at the time and collaborated with him on films such as “Talladega Nights.”
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California on Wednesday. Collier is named as plaintiff, while McKay, his production company Hyperobject Industries and Netflix are defendants.
“The plot of both works is practically identical,” the lawsuit alleges.
- 12/8/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
In 2012, William Collier self-published a dark comedy novel called Stanley’s Comet. It focuses on the discovery by a low-level NASA scientist of a giant comet on a collision course with Earth. Initially, the government is skeptical of whether it will make impact but eventually plans a nuclear strike, which, for political reasons, is aborted. In the meantime, the scientist is catapulted into fame as people are divided on whether to take the threat seriously and the wealthy make alternative plans for survival.
Viewers may recognize that plot from Don’t Look Up, according to a lawsuit Collier filed on Wednesday in California federal court against Netflix, Adam McKay and his production company Hyperobject Industries. He accuses them of ripping off his book and says that the works are “strikingly similar” to each other, pointing to McKay receiving a copy of his novel through his manager.
Netflix and McKay didn’t...
Viewers may recognize that plot from Don’t Look Up, according to a lawsuit Collier filed on Wednesday in California federal court against Netflix, Adam McKay and his production company Hyperobject Industries. He accuses them of ripping off his book and says that the works are “strikingly similar” to each other, pointing to McKay receiving a copy of his novel through his manager.
Netflix and McKay didn’t...
- 12/7/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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