HUGE LAWSUIT TAKES SHAPE OVER SAHARA
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.ns...20over%20sahara

As MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY and PENELOPE CRUZ's SAHARA raced into cinemas yesterday (08APR05), the author whose book inspired the film hatched plans to sue bosses for as much as $90 million (GBP47.3 million).

Bestselling author CLIVE CUSSLER has been waging a very public war against film-makers for almost a year, accusing them of breaching agreements made on the project.

His attorney BERT FIELDS says, "They promised Mr Cussler approval of the script. He wanted to protect his book. They departed fundamentally from the screenplays that he approved."

Fields filed a breach of contract suit on Cussler's behalf, prompting the film's producers to countersue claiming sabotage.

Cussler and Fields flirted with the possibility of trying to legally block the film's release, but decided against it, opting to battle it out in court instead.

Fields, who anticipates the case will go to trial in November (05), tells American TV show CELEBRITY JUSTICE, "We intend to take the matter to trial and fully litigate it. I wanna get these people in front of a jury."

But director BRECK EISNER remains hopeful that Cussler will approve of the finished product, stating, "I think he's gonna love it, I really do. We stayed true to the spirit of the books. I really can't wait for him to see it."

The monetary sum Cussler sues for will depend on the film's boxoffice performance.

<picks jaw off flow> Wow!! $90 mil? yike: yike: yike: yike: I'm officially speechless. That seems like a bit much for a book, but then again Sahara ain't just any book.

Man, do you think most producers/directors will not want to risk doing another CC book in fear of him consistently rejecting screenplays and lawsuits??? :blink:

Unfortunately, even if Anschutz wins and doesn't have to pay Clive the 90million, it's still giong to cost him a ton in court and attorney fees. Unless Sahara makes a lot in the box office, merchandise, and DVD sales I don't think they will risk another lawsuit. I can only hope that I am wrong because I would love to see more movies on the screen, even if they are different from the book they are based on. A new Dirk Pitt movie will be like a new book coming out, and you all know how much we look forward to new books.

Why doesn't CC make the next movie. That certainly would work. He could agree with Paramount no Court case on the agreement they make another movie for him to get one out of three how it should be.

Unlikely to happen but if their is another film CC needs to be God from start to finish.

I have been living under a rock. I didn't hear about this lawsuit at all. I agree with the concept that CC should be involved in the entire project. It seems to have panned out for Clancy. Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, etc. $90 million? Cripes, that was the jackpot for powerball this week. I think they should all play nice and we will get more CC movies. I thought they had a 3 movie deal to begin with? Am I wrong on that? Any clue what the next movie would be if there is one?

This is for the misguided of the world. CC always said that he did not want his books and stories to be butchered by money hungry film producers. This is his stand and we the die-hards stand with him on it, even if his daughter is starring in it. after all, CC goes against the grain, thats why no movie (besides Raise the Titanic and now Sahara) have ever been made, unless he has final approval of the script. If the movie producers have tried to stiff him now, lets see how CC is going to show his true Southern grit (no pun intended)!!!!