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Universal Demands Dieter, Sues Mike MyersStudio Says He Walked Away From Sprockets FilmLOS ANGELES, Updated 12:36 p.m. EDT June 7, 2000 -- "Touch my monkey!" or get sued.
That's what Universal Pictures is saying to comic actor Mike Myers, who has been slapped with a lawsuit. "Touch my monkey" is a catchphrase belonging to Dieter, a "German electro-pop performance" character whom Myers created for the show "Saturday Night Live." Universal claims that Myers walked away from a legal commitment to do a film based on Dieter and is suing for a breach of contract. In a statement to reporters, the "Austin Powers" actor said that he is "shocked and dismayed" by the filing and claimed that he has always intended to do the film, titled "Sprockets." However, he said that he wanted to delay the project because he felt that the script he was co-writing was "unworkable." "My agreement with Universal has always been that the movie would not be made until I approved the script," Myers said in the statement. "I informed Universal that the script does not work and it needs more time to be fixed." He said he was struggling to make "'Sprockets' move from beyond a sketch into being a full-length feature film, and despite (his) greatest efforts (he has) yet to achieve that." According to Universal's court complaint, Myers submitted the first draft of the movie's screenplay in early 1999. "Later in 1999, however, flush with the success of his Austin Powers sequel, 'The Spy Who Shagged Me,' Myers demanded that the fee for his service be doubled," the suit states. In March this year, Universal claims that it met with Myers and his representatives to discuss the project and the comedian's concerns. "Myers and his representatives told Universal that (he) was absolutely committed to making a movie based on the script he had written," the studio said. "In furtherance of his contractual rights and obligations, Myers then directed Universal to incur substantial costs in active pre-production of the movie." But on May 30, the studio claims, Myers called a meeting with studio executives yet again and announced that he was abandoning the project. The studio wants Myers barred from working on any other TV or film project before completing the movie. Universal is also asking to be reimbursed for preproduction costs and for what it is spending on the lawsuit. More Information:
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Copyright 2001 by local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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