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The actress has filed suit against producers Andrew Vajna and Mario Kassar of C-2 Productions, the team that was to bring us the highly anticipated sequel Basic Instinct 2, claiming they breached a $14 million verbal contract.

Variety reports that Instinct 2's domestic distributor, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., announced that the film, originally set for a 2002 release, was no longer on the studio's development slate during a media conference in New York on Wednesday. MGM Chairman and CEO Alex Yemenidijian was quoted in the trade as saying to investors, "Unfortunately, it's not going to happen," but was unable to comment on the reasons.

Said MGM's vice chairman and COO, Chris McGurk, "As the domestic distributor, we are disappointed that this version of Basic Instinct 2 is not happening. We hope in the future we can put together another version of the film."

That certainly isn't any consolation to Stone.

According to the lawsuit, in exchange for reprising her role as the ice pick wielding Catherine Tramell, Stone was to receive $14 million against 15 percent of gross receipts, estimated at $93.3 million. She would also get her customary perks and have casting approval, and the production was to start before the end of 2000. However, this start date was later pushed back to February 15, 2001.

Stone claims she turned down other film offers and even moved to a health fitness spa "to achieve the physical effect requested by defendants," according to the Associated Press.

According to Variety, the complaint alleges that last December Vajna and Kassar claimed they had no contract of any kind with Stone.

"It's interesting that they deny they ever had any contract with Sharon," Stone's attorney Bert Fields told Variety. "After all, what's the first thing you do when you're making a sequel to Basic Instinct? You make a deal with Sharon Stone."

The reason?

There may have been several factors involved in the floundering of the sequel.

When plans for the movie were first announced in June 2000, many were excited about the sequel to one of Kassar and Vajna's biggest hits. According to the Associated Press, the producers said, "The first film could not have been made without Sharon's mesmerizing performance, and we believe her return engagement will be even more exciting."

Stone was initially reluctant to return to the role that made her a megastar, especially after her original co-star, Michael Douglas, director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas were not involved in the project. However, she finally agreed in anticipation of working with the two producers again.

"Now that the project is in the hands of our original producers and my old friends Mario and Andy, I feel assured the project will be made with respect to the spirit of the original," Stone said at that time.

But by January, the film was looking shaky. The producers were having trouble finding a director and a male lead. Actor Bruce Greenwood was approached in January but decided to take on another role, fearing the possible actors' strike.

In March, a source close to the production told Reuters that Stone failed to give her OK to Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order), who reportedly had the backing of the film's financiers and producers as well as director John McTiernan, who had recently come on board. However, when Stone passed on Bratt, McTiernan quietly bowed out of the film. With no co-star and director, the film had little to stand on.

ProducersVajna and Kassar declined comment.