'Sahara' author made to sweat $5 million

Clive Cussler ordered to pay multi-million damages for attacking Sahara adaptation

May 16 2007

A Los Angeles jury has ruled in the case of Sahara author Clive Cussler versus Philip Anschutz's Crusader Entertainment, with the former ordered to pay damages of $5 million.

The case began in 2004, when Cussler sued Crusader for $40 million alleging that the production outfit breached contract by not giving the author script approval on 'Sahara'. The Matthew McConaughey-starrer proved an expensive flop upon its release.

Crusader filed a countersuit, however, seeking $100 million in damages from Cussler, claiming that the author's public condemnation of the adaptation was responsible for 'Sahara''s dismal box-office performance.

But though Cussler was ordered to pay $5 million after the jury found him in breach of an 'implied covenant of good faith', the author could ultimately be the better off. The jury ruled that Crusader were obligated to pay Cussler $8.5 million for second book rights to an adaptation that never materialised – rights that Cussler now also retains.

Whether Crusader will have to pay the full amount remains to be seen; the ruling is due for review by Judge John Shook. One thing's for certain: anyone expecting to see adventurer Dirk Pitt on screen anytime soon shouldn't hold their breath. As his creator commented: 'There won't be another Clive Cussler film, at least not during my lifetime.'

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