Latest news with #Shanks
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dave Franco and Alison Brie's ‘Together' director calls identity theft lawsuit ‘deeply upsetting'
The director of 'Together,' a new horror film by Bay Area filmmaker Dave Franco and his wife Alison Brie, has spoken up about the copyright infringement lawsuit that it has been embroiled in. 'It's not just a script; it's a reflection of something deeply personal,' the film's director, Michael Shanks, said in a statement released Wednesday, June 18. 'I lost my father at a young age in the same way our main character does, his trauma is rooted in my own. To have this called into question is not only deeply upsetting but entirely untrue.' The lawsuit, filed by production company StudioFest on May 13, claims that the Sundance Film Festival horror is a 'blatant rip-off' of Patrick Henry Phelan's 2023 independent romantic comedy 'Better Half.' Both films center on the concept of a couple being physically fused together, and the suit alleges that several other elements, including a 'near verbatim' reference to Plato's 'Symposium,' were copied. The suit lays out a timeline asserting that Brie and Franco were pitched on 'Better Half' in 2020, and that their agent at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment turned it down. However, Shanks claimed in his statement that he completed the film's first draft in 2019, subsequently registering it to the Writer's Guild of America later that year. After receiving development funding in 2020, he was introduced to Franco in 2022 and pitched the film to him. Shanks described being accused of idea theft as devastating. 'The suggestion not only undermines the work but also attempts to erase the emotional and professional journey I've taken to bring it to life,' he said. Last month, the defendants' attorney Nicolas Jampol asserted the films are 'not remotely similar' in a letter sent to StudioFest, which is behind 'Better Half.' 'Your client does not own this concept,' Jampol wrote in the May 21 letter, which was obtained by Variety. 'Neither do our clients. It is an unprotectable idea, one that predates all of our clients and has been explored in many films, television shows and other fictional works.' Franco, a Palo Alto High School alum and brother of actor James Franco, and Brie are both producers on the project and are among the defendants listed in the suit. Others include Shanks, WME and Neon, the distributor that acquired the film for $17 million. A joint statement from Neon and WME notes that 'the plaintiff is doing nothing more than drumming up 15 minutes of fame for a failed project.' 'Together' is due out July 30.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
One Piece chapter 1152: Did Luffy free Shanks first? Manga fuels the fire
One Piece chapter 1152 has sparked intense fan discussion, with many now rethinking the origins of Luffy's journey as a liberator. A detail in the chapter suggests that Luffy may have freed Shanks. This subtle but powerful plot point has added a new emotional dimension to their bond, surprising fans to the core. Check out what fans are saying now. One Piece chapter 1152 - Did Luffy free Shanks first? Taking to X, a manga reader shared snippets of the chapter and wrote, 'You mean to tell me that Shanks was the first person Luffy liberated?.' You mean to tell me that Shanks was the first person Luffy liberated?#ONEPIECE1152 #ONEPIECE1152 Shanks saved luffy from Lord of the coastLuffy liberated shanks from Lord of the world!Insane parallel! Oda never fails to amaze me🐐 Shanks is the first person luffy liberated. This duo story is going to be so beautiful when it concludes. Oda in his mf bag rn 🔥 #ONEPIECE1152 Reacting to it, one wrote, 'I think that day Luffy unleashed conqueror haki, and shanks decided to cut links with WG by removing imu's mark.' A second added, 'So shank allowed his arm to be cut on purpose, if this is the mark I think it is.' A third went on to add, 'Luffy goated a** liberating people since he was 6 year old.' In chapter 1152 of the manga, readers are transported 109 years into the past, during the reign of the fearsome King Harald. His death, believed to be caused by Loki, emerges as a key plot point. This chapter sets the stage for the unfolding historical narrative, with the next installment expected to delve even deeper into the mysteries of that era. For those who don't know, One Piece is a Japanese manga series created by Eiichiro Oda, known for its long-running success. It first debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 and has grown to become one of the most commercially successful and widely read manga series in history.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Michael Shanks denies plagiarism in Together film starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie
Michael Shanks, writer-director of the upcoming indie film Together, has spoken out following a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him and the film's creative team—including stars and producers Dave Franco and Alison Brie. The suit, brought by production company StudioFest, claims Together unlawfully copied the premise of their 2023 film Better Half. In a statement obtained by TheWrap, Shanks dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded, calling the film a reflection of his 'own lived experience.' He said the story—about a couple who wake up physically fused together, symbolizing co-dependency—was inspired by his 16-year relationship, which has been marked by 'entanglement of identity, love and co-dependence.' 'It's not just a script; it's deeply personal,' said Shanks, who also explained that key plot elements—like the main character's trauma over the loss of a parent and his struggles as a musician—were drawn from his life. 'To have this called into question is not only deeply upsetting but entirely untrue.' StudioFest filed the lawsuit in May, alleging Together copied plot points, dialogue, themes, and even visuals from Better Half. Their lawyer, Dan Miller, said, 'The similarities between the two works are staggering and defy any innocent explanation.' In response, Shanks provided a detailed timeline of the film's development, asserting he completed the first draft in 2019 and registered it with the Writers Guild of America that year—well before StudioFest's script was submitted to WME in 2020. Supporting Shanks' timeline, distributor Neon and WME accused the plaintiffs of 'chasing headlines before the film's release,' insisting Shanks alone created the story. Together, acquired by Neon for $17 million following its Sundance debut, is set for release on August 1, 2025. Shanks concluded, 'I stand by Together, its origins, and the years of work it took to make it real.'
STV News
4 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Applications to develop North Sea oil and gas fields to reopen
Applications to develop already-licensed North Sea oil and gas fields will re-open from Thursday, according to the UK Government. During a visit to the Port of Aberdeen on Thursday, energy minister Michael Shanks announced that offshore developments – such as the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in the North Sea – will once again be able to submit applications to develop already-licensed oil and gas fields. The announcement is part of new guidance from the UK Government in response to last year's landmark Supreme Court ruling for the North Sea. The Finch judgement ruled that the global environmental effects of burning oil and gas are an inevitable consequences of extraction projects. It meant that for the first time, North Sea operators were required to consider the impact of burning extracted oil and gas in environmental impact assessments. In practice, the UK Government put applications to extract oil and gas in already-licensed fields on hold following the ruling. After Thursday, that applications process will be relaunched. When deciding on an application, the UK Government will consider the significance of a project's environmental impact, while taking into account and balancing relevant factors on a case-by-case basis – such as the potential economic impact and other implications of the project. 'This new guidance offers clarity on the way forward for the North Sea oil and gas industry following last year's Supreme Court ruling,' Shanks said. 'It marks a step forward in ensuring the full implications of oil and gas extraction are considered for potential projects and that we ensure a managed, prosperous, and orderly transition to the North Sea's clean energy future, in line with the science.' He added: 'We are working with industry, trade unions, local communities and environmental groups to ensure the North Sea and its workers are at the heart of Britain's clean energy future for decades to come – supporting well-paid, skilled jobs, driving growth and boosting our energy security.' The UK Government said the guidance brings 'greater clarity for Britain's oil and gas sector, as the government continues its work with the industry to build a clean energy future for the North Sea'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Filmmaker Michael Shanks Responds to Copyright Infringement Allegations — Along with Neon & WME
Michael Shanks , the writer and director of the upcoming horror-romance film Together, has issued a statement responding to a recent copyright infringement lawsuit filed against him. Calling the allegations 'devastating' and emotionally taxing, Shanks insisted that the film's narrative is 'completely rooted in my own personal life. ' 'The suggestion of copyright infringement not only undermines the work but also attempts to erase the emotional and professional journey I've taken to bring it to life,' he said. Who's Involved in the Lawsuit? The lawsuit doesn't just name Shanks. Actor-producers Alison Brie and Dave Franco, talent agency WME (which represents all three), and the film's distributor, Neon, are also listed as defendants. Filed on May 13, the complaint alleges that Together is a 'blatant rip-off' of Better Half, a 2023 indie film written and directed by Patrick Henry Phelan. Neon & WME Fire Back In a strongly worded joint statement, Neon and WME dismissed the lawsuit as a publicity stunt: 'The plaintiff is doing nothing more than drumming up 15 minutes of fame for a failed project, demonstrated by the fact they contacted the press before filing their lawsuit and did so without doing the most basic due diligence.' About the Film 'Together' Together premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Neon for $17 million—the biggest deal out of Park City this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The film follows a couple who, after a bitter argument, wake up to find their bodies mysteriously fused together. As they navigate this surreal situation, they're forced to confront the toxic emotional codependency that binds them. Shanks insists that the development timeline for Together contradicts the plaintiff's claims: 'The facts matter. The timeline of my work on Together is documented and simply doesn't align with what the lawsuit alleges.' The Final Word from Neon & WME Neon and WME concluded their joint statement with a detailed rebuttal: 'There was zero outreach to the defendants to determine whether or not the Together script predated the plaintiff's script — which it does. The fact is, Together's writer-director Michael Shanks — not WME, Dave Franco, or Alison Brie — wrote the script and registered it with the WGA in 2019, nearly a year before the plaintiff submitted their script to WME. Almost all of the supposed similarities were already present in Shanks' original draft, much of it drawn from his own life and relationship with his longtime girlfriend. ' They further claimed that the lawsuit was a media tactic: 'The plaintiff doesn't care about the facts — they care about making waves in the press right before a film's release to score a payday. We look forward to presenting our case in court.' TOGETHER - Official Trailer - In Theaters July 30
