HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Benedict Fitzgerald is suing Mel Gibson, his co-writer on “The Passion of the Christ,” alleging fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices.
In the lawsuit, which was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Fitzgerald says that when Gibson hired him, he told him he’d be working on a small, $4 million to $7 million film and that there wouldn’t be much money available for Fitzgerald to earn. He also claims that Gibson told him several times that he himself did not plan to make any money, rather Gibson “considered [the movie] a personal gift to his faith.”
Fitzgerald argues that he was paid $75,000 for the film, but he also had to borrow $200,000 from Gibson for expenses.
Some estimate the film grossed over $600 million worldwide, netting Gibson a fortune on a project that court documents reveal cost about $30 million to make.
“Gibson preyed monetarily on Ben, taking advantage of his unbridled enthusiasm for the project and with full cognizance of Ben’s fundamental personal and spiritual beliefs,” the lawsuit states.
However, an attorney for Gibson’s production company, Icon, offers a different version, telling People magazine that the lawsuit “is utterly baseless and the charges are utterly baseless.”
Gibson’s lawyer, George R. Hedges, adds that Fitzgerald “was handsomely compensated — a very significant amount of money for any writer on any project.”
Fitzgerald is suing for damages in excess of $25,000.
