Warner Bros. Television’s ER revival look-alike has sparked a lawsuit from the estate of Michael Crichton, the creator of the original medical drama. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Warner Bros. and a trio of ER alums of repackaging plans for a series reboot as The Pitt after they were unable to secure the rights due to a dispute over crediting Crichton as the show’s creator. This legal battle highlights a “pattern of conduct” by the studio to circumvent Crichton’s rights to franchises he created, including Westworld.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. issued a 15-episode, straight-to-series order for The Pitt, starring Noah Wyle and created by ER duo John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill, all of whom are named in the lawsuit. The series was described as a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in modern-day America, set in a hospital in Pittsburgh. Gemmill, who was heavily involved in ER’s production, served as the showrunner for The Pitt, which was produced by John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. TV.
The lawsuit alleges that Sherri Crichton, Michael Crichton’s widow, received an offer letter from Warner Bros. TV for the ER reboot but negotiations fell apart over the “created by” credit for Crichton. Despite an initial agreement to credit Crichton as the creator of the series, Warner Bros. TV later reneged on the deal and pushed for less favorable terms for the estate. This led to the creation of The Pitt, which the lawsuit claims was a deliberate attempt to undermine Crichton’s rights by changing the setting from an urban hospital to one in Pittsburgh.
The estate of Michael Crichton brings several claims against Warner Bros., seeking a court order to block any violations of Crichton’s rights to ER. Additionally, the lawsuit addresses Warner Bros.’ refusal to give Crichton a “created by” credit on HBO’s Westworld, which was based on a film that Crichton created, wrote, and directed in 1973. The estate argues that Warner Bros. has minimized Crichton’s contributions to various successful projects, including ER and Westworld.
The legal battle sheds light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations and conflicts that can arise in the entertainment industry, particularly when it comes to intellectual property rights and creative control. It also underscores the importance of properly crediting creators for their work and the legal protections that should be in place to ensure their rights are respected.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts rule on the matter and what implications it may have for future reboots and adaptations of popular franchises. The legacy of Michael Crichton and his contributions to the worlds of television and film will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion as this legal battle plays out.
