David Frankel sues The Weinstein Company for fraud

Acclaimed director David Frankel is suing Harvey Weinstein’s film company for fraud over the release of a James Corden movie.
The Devil Wears Prada filmmaker’s suit alleges that The Weinstein Company (TWC), which was founded by Harvey and his brother Bob in 1979, deliberately scuppered the release of his 2013 movie One Chance.
One Chance saw British funnyman James play Paul Potts, a shop worker turned opera singer who rose to fame by winning the reality show Britain’s Got Talent in 2007.
According to editors at U.S. website The Wrap, David claims TWC paid him a low upfront fee to direct the movie, with his contract stipulating he’d receive a significant cut of any profit it made.
The lawsuit alleges that the film company then failed to honour an agreement to release the movie in at least 800 screens in the U.S., instead showing it in just 45.
David also claims TWC agreed to pay him $5 million (£3.8 million) and 50 per cent of the liquidated damages if they triggered a breach of their agreement by not releasing the film in cinemas.
The 57-year-old’s filing reportedly states that TWC had no intention of honouring this agreement, explaining: “TWC rarely if ever pays liquidated damages when it breaches agreements with theatrical release commitments.”
He is suing the company for breach of contract, fraud and negligent representation, requesting $4.8 million (£3.6 million) in addition to punitive damages.
One Chance flopped upon its release, only making $100,000 (£75,710) in the U.S., and failing to recoup the estimated $12 million (£9 million) it cost to make in international markets.