“In Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton taps all his mesmerizing talent and scientific brilliance to create his most electrifying technothriller.” Publisher’s Weekly
The estate of Michael Crichton, the original screenwriter for the pilot episode of “ER,” has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television, alleging that the studio is developing an unauthorized reboot of the iconic medical drama. The lawsuit claims that after negotiations to produce a reboot fell through, Warner Bros. went ahead with a new series titled “The Pitt,” which the estate argues is essentially a rebranded version of “ER” without proper authorization.
The Estate of “ER” Creator Michael Crichton Sues Warner Bros. Over New Hospital Drama “The Pitt”: The estate of Michael Crichton, who wrote the screenplay for what became the pilot episode of “ER,” has sued Warner Bros. Television over a dispute about an… https://t.co/owMIOqhrdr pic.twitter.com/aobcQayaaw
— SHOOTonline.com (@SHOOTonline) August 28, 2024
“The Pitt” is set to be a medical drama based in Pittsburgh, in contrast to the original “ER,” which was set in Chicago. Notably, the series will star Noah Wyle, who played Dr. John Carter in “ER” for over 250 episodes. Behind the scenes, the show involves several key figures from “ER,” including John Wells as executive producer and R. Scott Gemmill as showrunner, both of whom are named in the lawsuit alongside Wyle.
Warner Bros. has denied the claims, stating that “The Pitt” is a completely new and original show. “The lawsuit filed by the Crichton Estate is baseless,” the studio asserted in a statement, vowing to vigorously defend itself against what it considers meritless allegations.
“Crichton’s ability to blend cutting-edge science with engrossing storytelling made his novels a blueprint for modern technothrillers.” New York Times Book Review
The crux of the lawsuit revolves around a “frozen rights” provision that Crichton had secured in his contract for “ER.” Due to Crichton’s successful career with major projects like “Jurassic Park” and “Westworld,” this provision was included to prevent Warner Bros. from creating any sequels, remakes, or derivative works from “ER” without the consent of Crichton or his estate. The estate argues that Warner Bros.’ actions violate this provision, undermining Crichton’s creative rights and legacy.
A spokesperson for Sherri Crichton, Michael Crichton’s widow, emphasized the importance of enforcing contractual agreements to protect creators’ rights, stating, “If Warner Bros. can do this to Michael Crichton… no creator is safe.” The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks to halt production of “The Pitt” and demands punitive and compensatory damages.
“Crichton’s genius was his ability to immerse readers into complex, scientific ideas while still keeping them on the edge of their seats with a fast-paced narrative.”The Guardian
According to the lawsuit, Warner Bros. began developing a reboot of “ER” for HBO’s streaming service, Max, in 2020 without notifying Sherri Crichton. The estate was later brought into negotiations in 2022, where they were initially promised that Crichton would receive a “created by” credit, with a $5 million guarantee for the estate if the credit wasn’t given. However, this agreement was later revoked, and negotiations ceased, which the estate argues should have stopped all further development of the series.
Warner Bros. TV, ‘ER’ Alums Sued by Michael Crichton Estate Over New Medical Drama https://t.co/b6xbMxieF1 via @thr
— Phillip Covell (@PhillipCovell) August 28, 2024
Despite this, Warner Bros. continued with the project, announcing “The Pitt” in March 2024. The lawsuit asserts that the new series is essentially “ER” under a different name, featuring many of the same key personnel and production elements as the planned reboot.
The lawsuit also accuses Warner Bros. of previously attempting to diminish Crichton’s credit on derivative works, such as changing his credit from “created by” to “based on” in the 2016 series adaptation of his movie “Westworld,” suggesting a pattern of undermining his contributions.
Key Points:
- Michael Crichton’s estate is suing Warner Bros. over the new series “The Pitt,” which they claim is an unauthorized reboot of “ER.”
- The estate alleges that Warner Bros. violated a “frozen rights” provision in Crichton’s contract that prevents any sequels or reboots without their consent.
- “The Pitt” is set in Pittsburgh and features several key figures from “ER,” including Noah Wyle, John Wells, and R. Scott Gemmill, all named in the lawsuit.
- Warner Bros. denies the allegations, insisting “The Pitt” is a new and original show, and plans to defend against the lawsuit.
- The estate seeks to stop the production of “The Pitt” and is asking for punitive and compensatory damages, claiming Warner Bros. has previously attempted to diminish Crichton’s credits in other works.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News