Netflix faces a $105 million lawsuit after a hard drive containing an unreleased Nicolas Cage war thriller, "Fortitude," was stolen from its Los Angeles office. The film's makers allege Netflix's mishandling jeopardized their $45 million investment and the film's market potential.
This lawsuit highlights the significant financial and reputational risks associated with content security in the film industry, particularly for major streaming platforms handling high-value intellectual property.
Netflix is facing a $105 million lawsuit from the makers of an unreleased Nicolas Cage war thriller titled "Fortitude." The legal action stems from the theft of a hard drive containing a copy of the film from Netflix's Los Angeles office.
The film's producers are seeking damages, alleging that Netflix's alleged mishandling of the film and subsequent dismissiveness have jeopardized their $45 million investment and the movie's opportunity to be brought to market. They claim that any future sales, international release strategy, and awards campaign have been put in jeopardy.
Netflix disputes the claim that it bears the risk of loss for a film delivered without proper safeguards. A spokesperson stated that while they do not own the rights to "Fortitude," they take content security seriously and have implemented extra measures to support the filmmakers. This includes conducting an investigation and offering to monitor known piracy sites.
According to reports, Netflix received a digital copy of the film in June after expressing interest in promotional materials. The filmmakers instructed Netflix to delete the files after internal screenings. Sean Berney, Netflix's head of film acquisitions, noted that this was the first time the company had been the subject of such a theft, and their piracy teams are on high alert.
The lawsuit also questions whether a police report was initially filed by Netflix and criticizes the streamer's alleged refusal to involve the LAPD after the filmmakers filed their own report.
"Fortitude" is described as a London-set espionage thriller focused on British intelligence operatives during World War II, starring Nicolas Cage alongside Matthew Goode, Michael Sheen, and Ben Kingsley. The film is directed by Simon West. Martin Scorsese was previously attached to the project but was later involved in a separate lawsuit regarding his involvement with the screenwriter.