A movie based on Martin Amis’ novel “Success” — which sources say Jeremy Renner was interested in for a starring role before “The Hurt Locker” won the Best Picture Oscar — dissolved into a messy legal battle that’s heading to court next week.
After seven years of legal wrangling, the scathing suit filed by screenwriter Ethan Goldman and his producing partner Aldo LaPietra against the would-be financiers of the low-budget indie film will be heard in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday.
Goldman and LaPietra allege in court papers that W. Stephen Keller, then a managing director of Stonehenge Capital, and an associate, Alan Brown, reached an agreement with them to bankroll a $4 million budget. The suit alleges that Stonehenge “vigorously pursued the project,” adding that Keller even “stated that Stonehenge . . . wanted to close the financing quickly so the project could be produced immediately.”
The suit says “pre-production” began in 2005, when other actors attached to the project included Amanda Peet and Selma Blair. But after the filmmakers were told financing would close in “24 to 48 hours,” there allegedly was a delay and then “a dramatic reversal of earlier commitments and representations,” and the budget was cut to $3 million.
The suit claims Keller and Brown then left Stonehenge to form a new venture called Parkview. When Goldman and LaPietra tried to deal directly with Stonehenge, they learned the firm was not aware that their movie or any deal existed. They allege Keller and Brown wanted to use the project to launch their new venture, and Stonehenge then refused to finance the movie.
Claiming they’ve suffered damage to their reputations and standing in the screen business, Goldman and LaPietra want $30 million in damages. Keller’s rep had no comment. Goldman, Brown and Stonehenge didn’t get back to us.
Published in 1978, “Success” is about two brothers, one aristocratic and the other a lower-class adopted sibling.