Two production companies and a screenwriter have settled a lawsuit stemming from a dispute over film credits for the upcoming James Caan-Pierce Brosnan crime drama “Fast Charlie.”
Plaintiff Lee Goldberg and his company, Adventures in Television, brought the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Boomtown Media Partners LLC and Fast Charlie Nola LLC, alleging breach of contract and seeking declaratory relief. On Monday, Goldberg’s attorneys filed court papers with Judge Armen Tamzarian stating the case was resolved, but no terms were divulged.
The companies had earlier filed a motion for dismissal under the state’s anti-SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — law, which is intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
But Tamzarian, in clearing the case for trial, ruled June 22 that although the public may be interested in the movie or in the book on which it is based, that does not mean the film constitutes speech implicating a matter of public interest.
Goldberg, who has written for such television shows as “Psych,” “Monk,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Baywatch” and “Spenser: For Hire,” entered a written contract in March 2021 through his company with Boomtown Media to obtain the option to acquire the motion picture, television and ancillary rights to “Gun Monkeys,” a screenplay authored by Goldberg based on the Victor Gischler novel of the same title, the suit stated.
The contract stated that all monies due Goldberg’s company were to be paid to Goldberg if a film was made based on “Gun Monkeys” along with credits in the main titles, home video packaging and other areas, according to the suit filed in July 2022.
Goldberg believes Boomtown assigned its rights to FCN, which in April began shooting “Fast Charlie,” a movie based on “Gun Monkeys,” but the plaintiff was not paid the agreed-upon purchase price or provided through his company the first opportunity to make any required revisions to the “Gun Monkeys” screenplay, the suit stated.
“Fast Charlie” finished production in New Orleans, but has not yet been released. The film focuses on Brosnan’s character, Charlie Swift, who toiled for mob figure Caan for two decades and seeks to avenge Caan’s death, which is brought about by a rival boss.
Caan died July 6, 2002, at age 82 and was known for playing in films as varied as “The Godfather” and “Thief” as well as “Brian’s Song.”