Sean Connery sues Mandalay Pictures for £11m

Variety have reported that Sean Connery has filed an £11m lawsuit against Mandalay Pictures and principal Peter Guber Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging intentional and negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment and breach of oral contract.

Connery`s claims stem from the Mandalay spy thriller "End Game," a project to which Connery committed three years ago.

According to the suit, Mandalay was not able to finance production on "End Game," but strung Connery along for two years "in an attempt to hold themselves out to the entertainment industry as a viable production company. Mandalay, however, was nothing more than a house of cards."

According to the suit, "Mandalay agreed to pay Connery $17 million, plus contingent compensation, to star in the film." The actor and Mandalay agreed on a final screenplay in late 2001, and the actor began meeting directors in hopes of starting production in early 2002.

However, "Mandalay and Guber suddenly refused to cooperate with Connery in the final preparation of the project for production and, in fact, simply cut off all communications with Connery," according to the suit.

The suit further claims that in 2000 and 2001, Mandalay had no money of its own for production and relied solely on international financing. "When that arrangement began falling apart in late 2000 ... Guber and other executives at Mandalay were desperate to conceal Mandalay`s true financial condition and ... image in the industry."

Mandalay spokesman Kevin Mortesen said, "It`s not our policy to comment on litigation. However, we are confident in our position that the claims are frivolous and without any merit."

Dale Kinsella, who is part of the team at Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella that filed the suit on Connery`s behalf, said, "This litigation will demand of Mandalay that it provide economic substance behind its press releases and public statements behind its ability to finance films."

Thanks to `White Knight` for the alert.

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