Date: 11th October 2002

007 star wants £11 million over failed film deal


Sean Connery is suing a Hollywood production company for £11 million over claims it backed out of a film deal.
The 72-year-old alleges that Mandalay Entertainment Group and its chairman, Peter Guber, misled him about their ability to finance the film.

He says he had agreed to star in and produce the thriller End Game.

A lawsuit filed in an LA court claims Sir Sean was approached in 1999 about playing a CIA agent in the film, and encouraged to spend "considerable time, effort and money" in developing the project.

Lawyers allege that when he began meeting directors in the hope of starting production earlier this year, "Mandalay and Guber suddenly refused to cooperate...and simply cut off all communications."

They further claim the film company strung Sir Sean along for two years, "in an attempt to hold themselves out to the entertainment industry as a viable production company."

"Mandalay, however, was nothing more than a house of cards," say the lawyers.
The actor is seeking compensatory damages of £11 million plus compensation for "lost opportunities."

A spokesman for Mandalay told Variety: "We are confident in our position that the claims are frivolous and without any merit."

Guber has produced several box office hits, including Rain Man, Batman, and Flashdance.

Source: Press Release