What's happened
The estate of Michael Crichton has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television, claiming their new show, The Pitt, is an unauthorized reboot of ER. The estate alleges that Warner Bros. proceeded without consent after negotiations for a reboot failed. The lawsuit seeks to halt production and demands damages.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Kevin E G Perry from The Independent, the Crichton estate claims, "The Pitt is ER. It’s not like ER. It’s not kind of ER. It is ER with the exact same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio and network as the planned ER reboot." Warner Bros. responded, stating the lawsuit is "baseless" and that The Pitt is an original show. The South China Morning Post reported that the estate's spokesman emphasized the importance of protecting Crichton's legacy, stating, "If Warner Bros. can do this to Michael Crichton, no creator is safe." This contrast illustrates the conflicting perspectives on the legitimacy of The Pitt and the rights of creators.
How we got here
Michael Crichton, creator of ER, passed away in 2008, leaving behind a legacy that includes a 'frozen rights' provision in his contract. This provision prohibits Warner Bros. from creating sequels or reboots without the estate's consent. Negotiations for a reboot of ER broke down, leading to the development of The Pitt.
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More on these topics
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ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist and medical doctor Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009, with a total of 331 episodes spanning 15 seasons.
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John Michael Crichton was an American author and filmmaker. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films.
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Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Warner Bros.