While the franchise has moved on to a successful reboot, the team involved with the 90s big-screen iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is demanding over $3m in unpaid profits.
Producers Kim Dawson and Gary Propper, writers Bobby Herbeck and Todd Langen, director Steve Barron and the wife of late producer Graham Cottle are taking the series rights-holder to court, alleging their contracts weren’t fulfilled. The lawsuit is aimed at Fortune Star Media, who they believe is the successor to production companies Singel Film and Golden Harvest, who were behind the original films.
The complaint also claims Warner Bros is conscious of the issue.
It reads: “Warner Bros is and has been aware that Fortune Star has systematically, knowingly and intentionally withheld accountings and payments … Warner Bros will in all likelihood continue to do so.”
The producers say they are owed $1.5m, as their contracts state they should have been paid 10% of the profits from the three films. The director, who helmed the first film in the franchise, alleges that $800,000 has been unpaid as his contract states that he is owed 8% of the net profits. The writers believe they are owed smaller sums.
The original trilogy – ending with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time, in 1993 – made over $300m worldwide. The recent reboot made $485m, while a sequel, Half Shell, is set to star Megan Fox, Tyler Perry and Laura Linney next year.
Warner Bros declined to comment on the lawsuit. Fortune Star Media has not yet responded.
