Lionsgate Sued Over Alleged Theft of John Wick Story Idea — Report

A shocking new lawsuit has been filed against Lionsgate and several parties associated with the John Wick franchise. According to a new report, screenwriter J.R. Wicker alleges that the blockbuster action film incorporated material from a screenplay he wrote prior to the release of the movie. The complaint seeks at least $10 million in profits and claims that multiple story elements from his script were used without authorization.

New report says John Wick has triggered copyright infringement lawsuit

A new report has revealed that the John Wick franchise is the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter J.R. Wicker has accused the creators of the action series of using material from his screenplay Blood for Escobar without authorization. The lawsuit was filed in California federal court and names producer Thunder Road Films, screenwriter Derek Kolstad, and distributor Lionsgate as defendants. 

According to the filing, Wicker claims that John Wick and its sequel contain numerous similarities to Blood for Escobar. The lawsuit argues that both stories revolve around a widowed former assassin who is pulled back into the criminal underworld. He becomes involved in a violent conflict connected to a secret organization of professional killers. Wicker is seeking at least $10 million in profits generated by the films.

The complaint identifies several specific elements that it alleges appear in both works. These include a home invasion involving the killing of the protagonist’s pet, the discovery of hidden weapons inside the protagonist’s home, and a major confrontation that takes place at a nightclub.

Wicker further alleges that both stories feature a vintage Ford Mustang, a character who is initially hired to kill the protagonist before later assisting him, and a plotline in which the assassin organization ultimately turns against the main character.

The complaint specifically references Scorn, the screenplay written by Kolstad that later became John Wick. Wicker’s attorneys claim that Kolstad “intentionally, blatantly, and without authorization, copied” material from Blood for Escobar while developing the project. The case arrives amid broader changes in how copyright claims are evaluated in the entertainment industry.

At the time of writing, Lionsgate has not commented on the allegations. The case remains ongoing.

Source: Comingsoon.net