Established author Tess Gerritsen is suing Warner Bros. bosses for more than $10 million (£6.2 million), claiming their hit movie Gravity was based on her book.
The Chinese-American writer, who has penned more than 20 novels, filed a breach of contract complaint on Tuesday (29Apr14) against the studio over the sci-fi movie, starring Sandra Bullock. She is seeking more than $10 million plus damages from Warner Bros. as she claims she should have an author’s credit for the Oscar-winning movie, which was co-written by director Alfonso Cuaron and his son Jonas.
Gerritsen believes the plot of the film was taken from her 1999 novel named Gravity, which is about a female astronaut trapped in space and fighting for her life. The author is also seeking a $500,000 (£312,500) production bonus and 2.5 per cent of net profits from any film derived from her novel, including a potential movie by producers at New Line Cinema, who optioned her book for $1 million (£625,000) in 1999.
