CLIVE CUSSLER - SAHARA BREACH OF CONTRACT COURT BATTLE

SAHARA BREACH OF CONTRACT COURT BATTLE

CLIVE CUSSLER, the author of adventure novel SAHARA and film producer PHILIP ANSCHUTZ are embroiled in a bitter court battle regarding the book's movie adaptation. Cussler is suing the film's makers for breach of contract, while producer Anschutz is counter suing Cussler for alleged blackmail and sabotage attempts against the film prior to its 2005 release. The movie, which starred PENELOPE CRUZ and MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, recorded losses of $105 million (GBP53.8 million). Cussler believes his initial brief of "absolute control" over his book's big screen adaptation was compromised, which led to it becoming a box office flop. In a statement to a Los Angeles court, Cussler says, "They deceived me right from the beginning. They kept lying to me... and I just got fed up with it." However, ALAN RADER, Anschutz's lawyer, believes Cussler's behaviour was unacceptable and played a big part in the film's poor takings. He says, "It is the height of arrogance for Cussler to take $10 million (GBP5.12 million) to make a movie and then torpedo the franchise."