Scottish action star Gerard Butler has filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging he is owed at least $10 million in backend compensation for 2013’s “Olympus Has Fallen”.
The suit claims the film’s production company Nu Image/Millennium Films had understated domestic and foreign receipts by tens of millions of dollars along with failing to report $8 million that went to its own executives.
The lawsuit indicates Butler’s contract entitled him and his company to various receipts and net profit percentage points along with certain bonuses for hitting box office thresholds.
However it alleges that Butler has received irregular accounting statements from the producer and he objected. He reportedly hired an auditor who found domestic receipts were understated by $17.5 million and producers’ receipts were understated by $12 million including the $8 million that went to the executives.
Butler starred as Mike Banning, a Secret Service agent who has to rescue the president from Korean hostage-takers. The movie spawned two sequels with “London Has Fallen” and “Angel Has Fallen” in which Butler reprised the role.
The three films to date have grossed a little over $500 million from a combined three-film budget of $170 million In addition those involved in the franchise have spoken about plans for up to three more ‘Has Fallen’ films along with local language TV spin-offs.
The lawsuit comes a day after Scarlett Johansson filed a major compensation lawsuit against Disney over “Black Widow” and her box office participation.