Quaid sues over 'Brokeback' earnings

Randy Quaid has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the makers of 'Brokeback Mountain'.

Mar 24 2006

In a move that sent shockwaves through Hollywood yesterday, Randy Quaid filed a $10 million lawsuit against Focus Features over his 'Brokeback Mountain' fee.

The 'Independence Day' star claims producers persuaded him to effectively 'donate' his performance in the film by falsely representing 'Brokeback' as a low-budget arthouse movie.

Quaid alleges he was told that the film, which has already grossed more than $150 million worldwide, had 'no prospects of making any money'.

The lawsuit claims 'Defendants were engaging in a 'movie laundering' scheme designed to obtain the services of talent such as Randy Quaid on economically unfavorable art film terms for a picture that, in reality, had studio backing and would be exploited using traditional studio marketing and distribution techniques.'

A spokesperson for Focus said the specialty division doesn't comment on pending litigation.

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