Guy Ritchie sued by writer Mickey De Hara who claims film The Gentleman copies scenes from his rejected script
Guy Ritchie is reportedly being sued over his film The Gentleman after actor and writer Mickey De Hara claimed it reproduced parts of a script previously submitted to the film’s director.
The Gentleman tells the story of cannabis magnate Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who tries to sell his profitable marijuana empire as he retires.
In a lawsuit filed last month in the London High Court, seen by VarietyMickey claims Guy, 54, commissioned him to write a sequel to his 2008 mobster movie, RockNRolla, based on his ‘personal life experiences’, with the writer having previously been convicted of possession of cocaine and cannabis with ‘intent to supply’ for which he risked a prison sentence.
However, it is alleged that Mickey was told “the time of the gangster movie was over” by Guy after he submitted the script that told the story of a man who ran a marijuana business in 2018, while the project was not being developed.
Two years later, The Gentleman was released, and Mickey claims the movie was a “substantial” reworking of his script.
Woes: Guy Ritchie is reportedly being sued over his movie The Gentleman after writer Mickey De Hara claimed it reproduced parts of a script previously submitted to the movie director (Guy pictured in December)
Legal action: In a lawsuit filed last month in London’s High Court seen by Variety, Mickey claims Guy commissioned him to write a sequel to his 2008 gangster film, RockNRolla
The lawsuit alleges that The Gentleman copies Mickey’s cast and characters, and “unique aspects of the plot.”
Mickey claims his script featured a character called The Coach leading a group of tearjerkers called The Baby Squad, while in The Gentleman, Coach’s character (Colin Farrell) leads a gang of fighters called The Toddlers.
According to Variety, Mickey texted Guy after the release of The Gentleman, highlighting how similar the movie was to his script.
Guy replied, ‘Mickey, me and my people have been trying to contact you for several years.
‘There was no response. I’m glad we’re sitting down and having a chat.’
Mickey insists there was no contact before The Gentleman was released.
It is alleged that Guy turned down Mickey’s request for a writer’s credit on The Gentleman, instead offering him a credit on a later film that he was not a part of.
According to the lawsuit, Guy wrote in a text message, “I have a feeling Mickey might be late.
Plot: The likes of Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam and Colin Farrell appear, with the plot following the story of a drug kingpin (Matthew portrayed in film with co-star Michelle Dockery)
Comparable? Mickey claims his script featured a character named The Coach leading a tearjerker group called The Baby Squad, while The Gentleman’s Coach led fighting gang The Toddlers (Colin Farrell pictured as Coach in The Gentleman)
“I’ll try, but what I can do is make sure you get credit for something in the future. I will see what I can do. Frankly, we tried to get you.’
Mickey says he “has no intention of seeking credit for original work not done by him.”
He is seeking £201,000 and ‘honor for his original work used in The Gentleman without his permission and without payment of the agreed fee.’
MailOnline has reached out to a Guy representative for comment.