Actor Crispin Glover sued the filmmakers of the highly successful film “Back to the Future Part II” due to issues with his contract and the unauthorized usage of his likeness in the film.
According to reports, Glover’s contract for the first film only allowed for his likeness to be used in that film and any sequels that he agreed to participate in. However, in “Back to the Future Part II,” footage of Glover as George McFly from the first film was used to create a brief appearance for his character, even though Glover did not participate in the sequel.
This usage of Glover’s likeness without his permission or compensation violated his rights under his contract and under the law, which gives actors control over their image and the commercial use of their likeness. As a result, Glover filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers seeking damages.
The case was eventually settled out of court, with the terms of the settlement being confidential. However, the case brought attention to the issue of unauthorized usage of an actor’s likeness in films and the importance of clear contracts and agreements in the entertainment industry.
This lawsuit serves as a cautionary tale for filmmakers to be mindful of contracts and the rights of actors, and to avoid using an actor’s likeness without proper permission and compensation. This is not only a legal requirement, but also a matter of respect for the actors and the work that they have performed.
Sources:
- “Back to the Future” (1985) – IMDb
- Crispin Glover – IMDb
- Crispin Glover – Wikipedia
- “Back to the Future Part II” (1989) – IMDb
