‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ has received a lawsuit from a playwright claiming it is a rip-off of his own work.
Ronald Dickerson – also known as JD Lawrence – claims the film rips off his stage play ‘Scissors’ and the New York writer has filed legal papers against a number of networks and studios claiming $20 million (£14 million) in damages.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, seeks an injunction blocking the release of the film, claiming the plot, themes, characters and situation bear an overwhelming resemblance to those of ‘Scissors’, a stage play that toured in cities across the US from 1998 to 2001.
‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ had its premiere in Los Angeles last week and is due to hit cinemas this Friday (15.04.16), it is directed by Malcolm D. Lee and marks the third film in the series.
‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’, which stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve and Nicki Minaj, is the latest instalment in the comedy series about the owners of a Chicago barbershop, their employees and the neighbourhood problems they have to deal with.
Ronald’s play is about the proprietors of a barbershop and hair salon in a predominantly African/American neighbourhood, and events in the community around the business.
Time Warner Inc, Warner Brothers Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc and Showtime Networks Inc are all named in the lawsuit but are yet to comment on the action.
Barbershop: The Next Cut facing lawsuit
