LOS ANGELES --Sands of time run out for 'Sahara' partnership

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(Free-Press-Release.com) February 5, 2007 -- Instead, the collaboration went sour and led them to a California courtroom.
Anschutz gave Cussler creative control -- a rarity in Hollywood -- over films based on his books featuring his fictional alter ego, Dirk Pitt.

In return, the writer would be paid $10 million for each book that became a movie and receive consultation and approval rights.

The goodwill between the two ended in a dustup during the production of ''Sahara,'' starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz. Cussler claimed the adaptation of his book was ruined by bad scripts. Anschutz countered the author was irrational and difficult.

The two are now in court, accusing one another in dueling lawsuits of crippling the 2005 film, which grossed about $68 million at the U.S. box office.
Both sides are seeking millions of dollars in general and punitive damages. Jury selection was under way in the trial that will include both lawsuits.
McConaughey and executives connected with the movie are on the witness list.

The trial could explore intriguing details about the moviemaking process that are usually kept behind studio gates. There are claims of sabotage, racism and unnecessary spending on replacement scriptwriters.
The relationship between Cussler and Anschutz started amicably. In a deposition, Anschutz said he liked Cussler's novels because they were family friendly.
In his lawsuit filed in January 2004 against Anschutz's Crusader Entertainment, Cussler said the deal was breached when the ''Sahara'' screenplay was altered without his written consent.

''This case involves Crusader Entertainment's misrepresenting its intentions, misleading the public, breaking its word and claiming valuable rights in Clive Cussler's novels to which it is not entitled,'' Cussler's lawsuit states.
In his countersuit, Anschutz said his company gave Cussler certain approval rights regarding the screenplay and selection of actors and directors, but the author didn't cooperate.

The lawsuit portrays Cussler as an obstructive presence, rejecting numerous revisions of the screenplay and bashing the film in the media before it was released.

Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY GREG RISLING

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