Film star sues over movie that never was

Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane is suing a production company for £1.6m (€2.3m), alleging it failed to finance a film she was due to star in with Bruce Willis.

In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lane alleges that Intermedia Film Equities USA agreed to pay her £2.1m (€3m) regardless of whether or not the film, entitled Me Again was made, a provision known in the film industry as “pay or play.”

Lane, 38, claims that Intermedia made three payments to her in June, totalling some £513,000 (€728,000), but has failed to pay any more.

According to Lane’s lawsuit, Intermedia could not raise enough money to finance the film and negotiate a buyout with Willis after it realised it couldn’t afford to pay him enough.

Lane alleged that Intermedia initially tried to reassign the film and her contract to another studio, but eventually agreed to pay her off.

Lane, who was nominated for best actress at this year’s Academy Awards for her role as an adulterous housewife in the film Unfaithful, is seeking lawyers fees and other court costs as well as the balance due on her contract.