Tom Cruise is back in the game with Top Gun: Maverick being a huge film with a box office hit of $557.2 million globally. However, a new challenge arises for the film and Paramount as the heirs of the Top Gun author files a copyright lawsuit against the studio for not reacquiring the rights before its release in theaters.
In a report from Reuters, the heirs of Ehud Yonay, the author of the 1983 article Top Guns, filed a complaint at the Los Angeles federal court for copyright infringement against Paramount Global for failing to reacquire the rights before the release of Top Gun: Maverick in theaters.
Shosh Yonay and Yuval Yonay, Ehud’s widow and son, filed the lawsuit on June 6 seeking unspecified damages which the court may grant if the judgment to be rendered would be favorable against them. The suit also includes profits of Top Gun: Maverick and the blockage of the distribution of the film globally or to prevent further sequels from happening.
In the same report, the statement of Paramount claims that the suit was without merit and they would be ready to defend themselves.
The exclusive movie rights to Top Guns was owned by Paramount at one time but the Yonays point out that the copyright was reverted back to their family in January 2020. The Yonays allege that Paramount “sufficiently completed” the movie at the time the copyright already reverted back to them.
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It should be noted, however, that Top Gun: Maverick was delayed more than once due to the pandemic and has only been released in May 2022. The alleged completion date of the film was a year before the theatrical release of the movie.
Top Gun: Maverick is a sequel to Top Gun (1986) where Tom Cruise suits up again as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell set 36 years after the first movie where Maverick comes back to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, also known as “Top Gun,” where he would face his past while training a young group of aviators including Goose’s son.
Tom Cruise reprises his role and joining him are Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Hon Hamm, Lewis Pullman, Monica Barbaro, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer.
Top Gun: Maverick currently sits as the fourth highest-grossing film in 2022, bagging $557.2 million worldwide.
Top Gun: Maverick is currently in theaters. It will be available on Paramount+ 45 days after its release which will be happening on July 11, 2022.
Stay tuned to EpicStream for more news and updates about Top Gun: Maverick!
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