The Oscar-nominated 2021 movie Don’t Look Up, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence started making controversial headlines in 2023. According to reports, the writer-director Adam McKay along with Netflix is getting sued for copyright infringement by self-published author William Collier.
As per recent reports from Variety, author William Collier claimed that the story of Don’t Look Up sounds substantially similar to his self-published novel. And now, despite previously getting nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Adam McKay is getting sued at the U.S. District Court.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Film is Accused of Copyright Infringement
Having a reputation for choosing his projects wisely, Leonardo DiCaprio dipped his hands in Adam McKay’s 2021 movie Don’t Look Up, alongside Jennifer Lawrence. Turning it into a massive hit, DiCaprio’s film later got appreciated at the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay.
However, years later in 2023, the movie is now making headlines for being accused of copyright infringement. According to reports, the director Adam McKay who was previously hailed for his screenplay is now being sued by self-published author William Collier, for stealing inspiration from his novel.
William Collier claimed that Leonardo DiCaprio‘s 2021 comedy Don’t Look Up was substantially similar to his self-published novel. Alleging in the lawsuit that “both works is practically identical” the author dragged Adam McKay and Netflix to the U.S. District Court.
William Collier Filed Lawsuit Against Adam McKay and Netflix
According to reports shared by Variety, author William Collier claimed that he shared his novel Stanley’s Comet, via an email to his daughter in 2007, who was then working at Mosaic Media division Jimmy Miller Entertainment. And surprisingly Jimmy Miller Entertainment back then was Adam McKay’s manager, who collaborated on films like Talladega Nights.
Therefore, the author filed a lawsuit where he is named as the plaintiff, while McKay, his production company Hyperobject Industries, and Netflix are defendants. The lawsuit went ahead to describe the elements both the novel and screenplay have in common. And surprisingly the elements looked almost identical to one another.
After sending the novel to his daughter, William Collier self-published the story in 2013 in the book In Extremis, Two Novels. Thereafter, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence’s movie was released to Netflix on Dec. 24, 2021, and got nominated for four Oscars, including best original screenplay. Thus, now the lawsuit alleges that McKay’s explanation of how he came up with the idea was inaccurate.
