A high-stakes legal battle is brewing over a Netflix miniseries, and it's not just about money. It's a clash of creative visions and intellectual property rights.
The streaming giant's ambitious project, 'Senna', a big-budget miniseries about the legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, has ignited a copyright lawsuit from author Lauren Wild. Wild claims that the series is suspiciously similar to his own script, which he developed during discussions about leading the show's production.
Here's the backstory: Netflix, aiming to captivate the global F1 audience, invested over $170 million in this Brazilian-based production, filmed across South America. Wild alleges that his journey began in 2013 when he met with Sony Pictures executive T. Paul Miller, who showed interest in Wild's project centered around Senna. Fast forward to Warner Bros., where Miller, now overseeing international content strategy, introduced Wild to producer Andrew Lazar to discuss a feature film.
But here's where it gets controversial. Wild claims he was asked to revise Gullane's script, and subsequently, he wrote 11 episodes for a miniseries titled 'Built for Speed: Senna', which he registered for copyright protection. He shared his work with Gullane producer Gabriel Lacerda and was even offered a showrunner position by the production company. Negotiations ensued, but no formal agreement was reached.
And this is the part most people miss: Wild alleges that Netflix's 'Senna' series, released in 2024, contains characters and events he created. He accuses Netflix of negligence in their due diligence process before approving the series. The lawsuit includes claims of copyright infringement, breach of implied contract, and unjust enrichment.
The miniseries, directed by Vicente Amori and Júlia Rezende, has now become a legal battleground. So, what do you think? Is this a case of creative inspiration or copyright infringement? Share your thoughts in the comments, but remember, the legal world of entertainment is a complex arena!
