Alison Brie & Dave Franco Sued Over Alleged Movie Copycat Controversy

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In preparation for their upcoming horror movie “Together,” Alison Brie and Dave Franco are facing a legal battle as they’ve been hit with a lawsuit. Here’s a breakdown of the controversy and its potential implications for the film.

In the latest film by writer-director Michael Shanks, a real-life couple plays a fictional married pair. Their peaceful relocation to the countryside takes a terrifying turn as an enigmatic power alters their physical forms in gruesome ways due to some unexplained force.

After debuting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the film “Together” has been praised extensively by initial reviewers. At present, it boasts a perfect score of 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

To put it simply, the upcoming 2025 horror movie is generating a lot of excitement, but its release has been thrown into doubt due to a significant legal problem stemming from a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against actors Franco, Brie, Shanks, and the production studios associated with the film.

Why are Alison Brie & Dave Franco getting sued?

On May 13th, StudioFest brought a lawsuit against Together, alleging that they shamelessly copied the 2023 film Better Half. Brie and Franco are two of the individuals named as defendants in this case.

For those not familiar, “Better Half” is an independent movie that revolves around two characters who encounter each other for a one-night stand, with an unusual twist: their bodies become intertwined during the sexual act.

The lawsuit states that StudioFest, a movie-making firm dealing with production, financing, and distribution, has secured the sole authority to create and film Patrick Phelan’s script for the 2023 movie. Their intention is to attract Brie and Franco to play the main characters in this project.

2020 saw a direct submission of the “Better Half” script and summary to the talent agencies of Franco and Brie, specifically William Morris Endeavor (WME). However, the defendants Franco and Brie declined the opportunity to be part of the project by acting in it.

However, it was discovered by the plaintiff in January 2025 that Franco and Brie were working on and appearing in a movie called “Together,” which bore striking resemblance to the one the plaintiff had conceived. This film, scripted and directed by another client of WME (William Morris Endeavor), Michael Shanks, was also remarkably similar.

In essence, ‘Together’ bears a striking resemblance to ‘Better Half.’ Both stories focus on a pair of characters who discover they have been joined bodily, symbolizing their interdependence or codependency.

The accusation is made against the Together team that they copied various story components such as plot, themes, characters, dialogue, atmosphere, location, tempo, and sequence from other works. Later, they were purchased by Neon for $17 million.

Jess Jacklin and Charles Beale, the producers of Better Half, attended the premiere of Together at Sundance to check for any possible similarities between the two films.

In the heat of the game, with laughter and cheers echoing around me, I found myself frozen, side by side with my opponent. My deepest fears were coming to life before my eyes, leaving us both speechless and dumbfounded. The complaint continued…

In numerous instances, it became evident that the defendants didn’t merely appropriate ‘common concepts’ or ‘elements inherent to the genre’, but rather, they almost entirely copied the distinctive elements of Better Half’s creatively protected expression.

The analysis points out several correspondences between the two horror flicks, encompassing dialogue, motifs, personalities, and storylines. Strikingly, it posits that they both conclude with an identical scene: the main characters drawing a vinyl record of the Spice Girls’ album “Spiceworld” as they embrace their destiny.

As I delve deeper into the activities outlined earlier, I find myself unintentionally yet repeatedly involved in copyright violations – actions that I’m now keenly aware are not acceptable.

The legal action aims to secure financial compensation for StudioFest, as well as require the defendants to transfer any earnings derived from the alleged copyright violation, according to copyright law. However, a precise sum has yet to be disclosed.

Together agency claps back at allegations

Although Brie, Franco, and Shanks’ representative agency, WME, haven’t made any public statements yet, they have already released a refutation of the accusations in private.

A representative from the talent agency stated to Entertainment Weekly that the lawsuit is baseless and unfounded. The details of this case are straightforward, and we intend to strongly contest this claim.

The type of reaction implies that the party perceives the legal action as a strategy to capitalize on the popularity of ‘Together’, especially following its recognition at Sundance and the massive purchase of it by Neon.

At the moment, there’s no scheduled court hearing for this copyright infringement case. Resolution can often be a lengthy process, with some cases taking months, or even years, to move forward. It’s common for such cases to be privately settled out of court, especially when both parties are eager to steer clear of prolonged negative publicity and delays in release schedules.

As things stand right now, the movie “Together” is set to premiere in theaters on July 30, 2025. It remains uncertain whether this upcoming lawsuit might postpone its release. If the legal dispute progresses to a court trial, the situation could potentially grow more complex.

As a devoted enthusiast, I can’t help but share some insights about the situation. If StudioFest fails to secure and obtain a preliminary injunction (effectively pausing its release), it seems the movie’s launch is set to proceed according to the original plan.

Despite this legal dispute, it may influence partnerships or broadcasting agreements, particularly if fresh details surface or the situation prolongs. Regardless of how it unfolds, Together is likely to draw significant attention – whether positively or negatively.

What the public is saying

Although opinions on the case vary, a notable aspect that has drawn attention is the inclusion of the Spiceworld reference in the lawsuit, rather than other details.

In simpler terms, someone posted on Reddit, “If the Spiceworld story is real, it’s one of the most absurd things I’ve ever encountered. No one who supposedly took it could have approved such a thing. Maybe there’s a way to justify the Zeus theft… but the idea of stealing from the Spice Girls is unbelievable.

One person concurred, “Indeed, the ‘Spiceworld’ evidence seems to be the most compelling piece, and it would benefit the plaintiffs to emphasize this point more. While some of these issues might stem from rigid court reasoning, the ‘Spiceworld’ detail is so precise that it’s hard to dismiss.

Indeed, it wasn’t entirely surprising to hear about two individuals merging in some way, but this particular scenario seemed a bit suspicious, the third party noted.

A fourth person added, “It seems the key point is that Brie and Franco both received and read the initial movie script, and subsequently developed the same idea on their own.

For now, take a look at the upcoming streamed movies for this month, some truly terrifying horror flicks inspired by real events, and the top-rated films of 2025 thus far.

While you’re here, explore the new movies hitting streaming platforms this month, watch some chilling horror movies based on true tales, and check out the fantastic movies from 2025 that have been released so far.

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2025-05-19 13:51