The new complaint by actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting also mentions the Criterion Collection and Janus Films
Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting have filed a new lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, this time over the Criterion Collection domestic release Romeo and Juliet.
Hussey and Whiting, who were both under 18 when the 1968 Shakespeare adaptation was filmed, had previously filed a lawsuit that was dismissed, accusing the studio of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress with a nudity scene in which they participated. minors. .
The initial complaint alleges that the late director Franco Zeffirelli told Hussey, now 72, and Whiting, now 73, that the film would not contain nudity and used flesh-colored clothing for the scene in question, until he allegedly suggested that the film ” fail” unless the stars performed the scene naked while wearing makeup on the last day of filming.
Hussey and Whiting claimed that the director lied and that they ended up being filmed naked without their knowledge.
The original lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in May 2023.
The new complaint — related to Criterion’s domestic re-release of the film — reads in part: “Nothing in Hussey’s performance contract with BHE grants or recognizes any right in BHE to recreate, republish or redistribute photographs of her performance in the Original Work in any other medium or format other than 35mm analogue cinematography.”
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Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey on April 26, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty
The judge dismissed the lawsuit for sexual exploitation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ because of the nude scene with minors
Furthermore, “Neither Whiting nor his guardian ever agreed in writing to perform as an actor in the Original Work, nor did he ever intend to grant or recognize any rights in his performance to BHE or any other entity, including but not limited to the right to reproduce creating, republishing, or redistributing photographs of your performance in the Original Work in any medium or format other than 35mm analog motion picture stills,” the complaint states.
An attorney for Hussey and Whiting, as well as representatives for the defendants — Paramount, Criterion Collection and Janus Films, which owns Criterion — did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
According to court filings, Hussey and Whiting are seeking “damages in an amount sufficient on proof to compensate them” “for economic damages suffered as set forth above,” as well as “general damages suffered as set forth above.”
They also seek “punitive or exemplary damages in an amount sufficient to punish and/or make an example and/or deter such conduct in the future,” “a preliminary and permanent injunction not to distribute the Digital Edition from the Included Digital Photographs,” “the costs of this actions” and “any other and further relief that the court deems appropriate.”
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Enter Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting Romeo and Juliet (1968).
Courtesy of the Everett Collection
‘Romeo and Juliet’ stars sue Paramount Pictures over sexual exploitation in 1968 film
Whiting and Hussey’s original lawsuit relied on a recent California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits until Dec. 31, 2022.
In May 2023, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie indicated that she would dismiss the lawsuit, saying the film’s content did not rise to the level of child pornography and noted that prosecutors did not follow all steps to comply with California law.
The actors’ attorney, Solomon Gresen, “strongly condemned” the judge’s decision at the time, according to a press release, and said they plan to file a federal lawsuit over the film’s 2023 re-release. Romeo and Juliet.
“We strongly believe that the exploitation and sexualization of minors in the film industry must be confronted and legislated to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure that existing laws are enforced,” Gresen said at the time.
The December 2022 filing said the actors are seeking damages “believed to be in excess of $500 million” to match the amount of money the film has made since 1968.
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Source: HIS Education