'One Shot' Lawsuit: Tom Cruise Movie Involved In Legal Battle

The upcoming action film, "One Shot," stars Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, a former military police officer who looks to solve a set of murders. However, it appears the on-camera fisticuffs have made their way behind the scenes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a set of producers are currently entrenched in a legal battle over compensation rights to the film.

The lawsuit states that plaintiff Kevin Messick agreed to develop a movie based on the popular Lee Child novel with defendants Don Granger and Gary Levinsohn. However, after spending five years on the project together, Levinsohn and Granger allegedly began to string Messick along, withholding drafts of the script and eventually cutting him out of the equation entirely.

"Messick says he continued to work on the film until June 29, 2011, when he says he sent an email to Granger stating 'I'm getting the message loud and clear that you have no intention of involving me with [the film] am I wrong?' ... On August 13, 2011, Messick alleges that Granger responded to him in an email: 'I will work with you to get you credit on the film,' the complaint alleges Granger wrote. 'Whatever accommodation of fee we discussed was always predicated on if Gary and I received our deal on the film and I made that clear. We are not receiving our deal on the film.'"

Messick claims that he was to share credit and fees upfront with the duo, and is now suing them for compensation. Sounds like this may be a job for, uh, Jack Reacher?

You can read more about the lawsuit over on THR. "One Shot," starring Cruise, Robert Duvall and Werner Herzog, hits theaters February 18, 2013.

[via THR]

Comments

[echome]

11:00 AM on 03/14/2012

"Sounds like this may be a job for, uh, Jack Reacher? " If he was tall enough to see over the counter like Jack Reacher is supposed to be. This diminutive actor is not Jack Reacher from any of the novels I've read and Lee Child did his fan base a great dis-service casting this runt to the task. Gosh, I hope I'm not too specific!

[Donna Scott Kopenhaver]

10:40 AM on 02/06/2012

Scientology or not Tom Cruise ages very well. He is getting better looking with age.At least in the photo above.

[Angus12]

07:59 AM on 02/06/2012

The lawsuit should be about Jack Reacher being portrayed by a drawf.

[Jn9876]

09:08 AM on 02/12/2012

nope, you should be sued for being the biggest idiot on this page.

[echome]

11:02 AM on 03/14/2012

Anyone who disagrees with you hasn't read a Jack Reacher novel.

[Jn9876]

12:35 AM on 02/06/2012

Just an FYI, Hollywood doesn't hold elections on who it should cast. I really like the series so i'll go see it and hope for sequels. Everyone deserves a chance, especially Lestat de Lioncourt.

In his interview, Christopher McQuarrie says that he strongly thinks we'll like it and he's trying to make the movie (script) as faithful to the book content as possible.

[moodygirl]

08:52 PM on 02/05/2012

Love the books, so will stick with the picture of Jack I have in my imagination. Liam Neeson is one actor who could play Jack Reacher. There are others, but Tom Cruise is not one of them.

[MusingAtheist]

02:56 PM on 02/05/2012

Couldn't be much of a movie if it involves and stars Tom Cruise the cult leader!

[Jn9876]

12:31 AM on 02/06/2012

I wouldn't want to end up in a theatre with you, would rather have you continue to deprive yourself of entertainment and this movie.

[lisaman]

01:06 PM on 02/05/2012

I am a huge fan of Jack Reacher, have been for years. I heard that there was going to be a movie and I could not imagine who would play him. If given a list with thousands of actors, Cruise would be on the bottom of the list of my choices. The guy needs to be a stud, a huge stud! For starters, Cruise is too short. Please don't do this, I have been waiting for this and if Cruise is the choice, I promise I will be skipping the movie.

[Jn9876]

02:37 PM on 02/05/2012

He deserves a chance, he has always done justice to the roles he plays. Reacher fans not supporting the movie will just mean we won't get to see sequels(may be not coz a lot who will see wouldn't have read the books but might read the books afterwards).

I'm just glad we are getting to see this made in a movie.

[lisaman]

09:10 AM on 02/07/2012

If the sequel has Cruise, then I see no loss. I am sorry but I have had enough of the egomaniac! Doesn't it bother you he is a foot shorter than Jack Reacher?

[butchbuss00]

06:47 AM on 02/05/2012

I THINK HE IS GREAT IN THE SERIES HES A GREAT ACTOR LOVE HIM

[Kaleidoscope1]

03:47 AM on 02/05/2012

It's embarrassing that he looks 20 years younger. He should fire his plastic surgeon.

[Jn9876]

02:38 PM on 02/05/2012

honestly I don't think he had work done, just a very healthy lifestyle. My aunt is older than him and still looks decades younger with no work at all. She was a personal trainer. :)

[KC45]

12:59 AM on 02/05/2012

Jack Reacher is 6'5". Cruise is gonna play Jack?

[madcityy]

11:55 AM on 02/04/2012

WHAT THE HELL??????????????

[picval]

09:50 AM on 02/04/2012

Tom is NOT JACK! what are they going to make small door ways, have the munchkins play the bad guys? Please find someone who fits the bill, don't ruin a great book.

[Jn9876]

12:41 AM on 02/06/2012

Speak to someone who works in Film production. Christophe­r McQuarrie said he's aware of the objection to the physical features but says we won't be disappointed. So I dunno what they're doing but i'd take his word for it.

[karencares]

08:16 AM on 02/04/2012

This sounds less like Tom Cruise is involved than the folks who are in business with him have made a very tenuous situation more completed. I am always amazed how people associated with a major star try to link to this very slight connection sound like they are in ALL negotians (sic) with real power players.

[Jn9876]

12:53 AM on 02/05/2012

True, No Cruise's involvement at all but they get more clicks by putting his name in the title. He has made his name, such a hardworking actor.

[lisaman]

01:08 PM on 02/05/2012

Yes, he is a good actor, a hardworking actor. But not for this role. I also did not agree with him in the role of Lestat and I still believe that. Brad Pitt stole that movie.

[bocoe]

02:47 AM on 02/04/2012

Aww such a pity, everyone hating on Tommy. Give him a chance. One thing about Tom, he does surprise us from time to time.

[Theatrixnyc]

09:38 PM on 02/04/2012

Good Actor.....Good Person.......and knows better than his own 'religion' -

(Sorry Tom, that's the best I can do. For now...But I have faith, in both of us. )

[Jn9876]

12:57 AM on 02/05/2012

Have seen almost all his movies, a lot of my all time favorites are his. Can't disregard his hard work and be stuck up about his beliefs.

Good luck to TC and I have faith in him as well :)

[lisaman]

01:10 PM on 02/05/2012

Are you a fan of Reacher? Are you aware that he is supposed to be 6' 5" and that Cruise is about a foot shorter than that? Just one reason I don't want him in the role, not his acting ability but his simply not fitting the picture the many books have portrayed of him.

[Jn9876]

02:33 PM on 02/05/2012

Cruise does not appear his actual height (5'7") when he's doing a role. He has played characters Lestat (6ft+). Anyhow we should give them a chance. I really hope there are sequels. I love these books.

[aceshigh11]

01:55 AM on 02/04/2012

Man, he is well-preserved for 49. I'll give him that.

[pynecastle]

05:50 PM on 02/04/2012

Maybe he got "pickled".

[Jn9876]

12:58 AM on 02/05/2012

Kids, you see how staying away from drugs and drinking can help you age well?

[Kaleidoscope1]

03:50 AM on 02/05/2012

It's called botox and plastic surgery.