NEW YORK — A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit involving a writer’s claim to co-authorship of the screenplay for “Top Gun: Maverick,” a major Hollywood release. The case, initiated by Shaun Gray, contended that he significantly contributed to the film’s script and sought recognition and financial compensation as a result.
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff ruled on Wednesday that Gray would not be recognized as a joint author of the screenplay, which could have entitled him to a share of the blockbuster’s profits. However, the court left the possibility open for Gray to pursue claims of copyright infringement.
Filed in April, Gray’s lawsuit asserts that he was involved in crucial phases of the screenplay development, alleging that he had written important scenes after screenwriter Eric Warren Singer and director Joseph Kosinski engaged him to help shape the film’s narrative. Gray claims to have authored 15 key sequences, including one where protagonist Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, portrayed by Tom Cruise, pushes an advanced fighter jet to its limits, resulting in a failure, and another demonstrating Maverick’s skill in outmaneuvering elite trainees.
Gray argued that because he never formalized a work-for-hire agreement with Paramount, he should be considered a co-author of the screenplay, unlike other writers involved in the project. This type of arrangement typically grants the studio sole ownership rights to the screenplay.
Court documents reveal that Paramount enlisted three different waves of screenwriters during the film’s production. Gray’s contributions came after two other writers had already produced drafts of the script. Paramount dismissed Gray’s claims, asserting that his limited involvement did not justify co-ownership.
Molly Lens, representing Paramount, noted that Gray did not have decision-making authority over the script and received no credit for joint authorship. “He lacks agreements with third parties indicating his authorship,” she stated in a motion to dismiss the case.
Despite the setback, Gray retains the right to seek damages through his copyright infringement claim, which was not dismissed. He has highlighted that Kosinski found his contributions valuable enough to include them in the final version of “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The court is expected to release a detailed opinion explaining its decision in the near future. Gray’s background includes work as a staff writer for an episode of “Shantaram” and acting as Singer’s assistant on “The International.” He has primarily focused on digital artistry, contributing to series such as “The Magicians” and “Two and a Half Men.”
This isn’t the first legal dispute concerning “Top Gun: Maverick.” In 2023, the heirs of the author of a 1983 magazine article that inspired the original film accused Paramount of moving forward with the sequel without renewing licensing agreements. That case was ultimately dismissed.
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