Guy Ritchie SUED for breach of contract after writer claims he stole 'The Gentlemen' from rejected script
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Guy Ritchie is known for his gangster movies like 'RockNRolla' in 2008 and 'The Gentlemen' in 2020. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery. 'The Gentlemen' tells the story of an American drug lord in London who wishes to retire and live a quiet life. Unfortunately, when the rest of the criminal underworld learns of his plans, they will stop at nothing to steal everything he's built for himself, resulting in complete chaos.
Ritchie received praise for his 2020 movie since it was one of his finest works. According to recent media reports, 'The Gentlemen' was allegedly taken from a rejected script and Ritchie is now being sued by actor and writer Mickey De Hara for breach of contract regarding some scenes from the film. A lawsuit was filed in the London High Court in March 2023 by De Hara against the British filmmaker.
RELATED ARTICLES
Is 'The Gentlemen' copied?
According to the lawsuit filed by De Hara, Ritchie hired him to write a sequel to the 2008 gangster film 'RockNRolla' based on his personal life experiences, which included convictions for possession with intent to supply.
In 2018, the writer delivered the screenplay but the director allegedly scrapped the project by saying, "The time of the gangster movie was over." However, in 2020, Ritchie released 'The Gentlemen' in which McConaughey plays a gangster called Mickey who is trying to sell off his marijuana empire.
De Hara has claimed the movie is a substantial reproduction of his screenplay. The lawsuit states that the movie copies De Hara's characters, their characterization, and unique aspects of the plot. He emphasizes a particular scene in which Colin Farrell's character defends himself with a bottle of vinegar, which De Hara stated has been taken directly from his screenplay.
De Hara seeking a share of profits
The writer revealed he texted Ritchie after the premiere of the film to point out similar factors. The director replied, "Mickey, I and my people have tried to contact you for some years now. There was no response. I am happy for us to sit down and have a chat.” De Hara denied the attempts to contact him. Ritchie even backed off from giving him writer credit on the film before its digital release.
In the lawsuit, De Hara states he "has no intention of seeking credit for original work that was not created by him but instead seeking credit for his original work that has been used in ‘The Gentlemen’ without his consent and without payment of the agreed remuneration.” The writer is also seeking over $250,000, which includes a share of the film’s profits. Ritchie has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
