Disney Moana Lawsuit: $10,000,000,000 Lawsuit Accused of ‘stealing’ Moana Idea

Key Takeaways:

• Animator Lawsuit Against Disney: Buck Woodall filed a $10 billion lawsuit accusing Disney of copying his screenplay, “Bucky,” for “Moana” and “Moana 2.”
• Initial Lawsuit: Woodall previously filed a lawsuit for the first “Moana” film, citing similarities such as teenage protagonists from Polynesian villages and tattooed demigods with fish hooks.
• Dismissed Claims: The initial lawsuit was dismissed for being filed too late.
• Renewed Legal Action: The release of “Moana 2” allowed Woodall to pursue further legal action.
• Key Allegations: Similarities include protagonists’ journeys, encounters with ancient spirits, plots involving necklaces, and large creatures within mountains.
• Jenny Marchick’s Role: Woodall claims he shared his screenplay with Jenny Marchick, then Director of Development at Mandeville Films, who had a first-look deal with Disney.
• Damages Sought: Woodall seeks 2.5% of “Moana’s” gross revenue, totaling around $10 billion.
• Disney’s Response: Disney has not publicly commented; director Ron Clements denies any connection between “Moana” and Woodall’s project.
• “Moana” Success: Released in 2016, “Moana” received critical acclaim, two Oscar nominations, and became the most-streamed film in history.
• “Moana 2” Release: The sequel, released in November 2024, became the third-highest-grossing movie of the year.

Disney is facing a significant legal challenge as animator Buck Woodall has filed a $10 billion (approximately £8.2 billion) lawsuit against the entertainment giant. Woodall alleges that Disney unlawfully appropriated ideas from his screenplay for an animated film titled “Bucky” to create “Moana” and its forthcoming sequel.

The lawsuit, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, highlights striking similarities between “Bucky” and “Moana.” Both stories revolve around teenage protagonists who defy parental guidance and embark on adventurous journeys from their Polynesian villages to save their communities, encountering ancient spirits along the way.

Key elements cited in the lawsuit include the presence of a tattooed demigod wielding a large fish hook, an initiation with turtles, a plot centered on a necklace, and the discovery of large creatures within a mountain. These parallels extend to “Moana 2,” where both protagonists are depicted attempting to break a curse by seeking an ancient island.

According to the legal documents filed on January 10, Woodall had previously shared his screenplay and a trailer for “Bucky” with Jenny Marchick, then Director of Development at Mandeville Films and now Head of Development for Features at DreamWorks Animation. Woodall claims that Marchick requested additional materials such as character designs, production plans, and storyboards to evaluate the project further.

Woodall alleges that he had a first-look deal with Disney and maintained an office at the company’s Burbank premises. He is seeking damages amounting to 2.5% of “Moana’s” gross revenue, which totals $10 billion, and a court injunction to prevent further infringement of his copyrights.

This lawsuit follows a previous court decision in November, where a judge ruled that Disney was not liable for another copyright lawsuit filed by Woodall due to the statute of limitations. However, the release of “Moana 2” has enabled Woodall to pursue additional legal action.

In the earlier case, U.S. District Judge Consuelo Marshall noted the existence of a “genuine issue of substantial similarity” between the works. The case also revealed that a Disney Animation employee may have had access to Woodall’s copyrighted material before “Moana” development commenced.

Disney has refuted the allegations, with “Moana” director Ron Clements asserting in a court declaration that the film was not inspired by Woodall’s “Bucky” project, which he only learned about after the lawsuit was filed.

Metro has reached out to Disney representatives for further comments on the lawsuit.

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