UPDATE: A new copyright lawsuit has just emerged against James Cameron and Walt Disney Co. over allegations that the blockbuster film Avatar: The Way of Water infringed on a writer’s original work. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the US District Court for the Central District of California, heightening tensions just days before the highly anticipated release of the third film in the franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, set to hit theaters on Friday.
The complaint claims that elements from the science fiction story KRZ, created by 3D animator Eric Ryder, were unlawfully incorporated into the sequel. Ryder argues that after a previous lawsuit regarding the original Avatar was dismissed, fresh instances of copying have appeared in the new film.
In his previous suit over the original Avatar, a California state court ruled in favor of Cameron, stating that he had developed the film independently before Ryder presented his work. However, Ryder asserts that the current lawsuit addresses “new acts of copying that occur for the first time in Avatar 2,” specifically highlighting significant plot points and character structures allegedly derived from his story.
The lawsuit alleges that Cameron and Disney tried to acquire Ryder’s rights to KRZ after successfully defending against prior claims of fraud and breach of contract. Ryder now claims that crucial elements of his narrative, including themes and core plot devices, were integrated into the sequel without permission.
Among the key similarities cited are the presence of “anthropomorphic beings,” a vast oceanic environment, and a corporation involved in environmentally damaging mining operations on a moon of a gas giant planet named Europa. Most notably, the lawsuit highlights a plot point centered around the “harvesting of an animal-based substance” that extends human life, which Ryder contends is a direct rip-off from KRZ.
In light of these claims, Ryder is seeking at least $500 million in damages and is requesting a court order to block the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Ryder’s attorney, Daniel Saunders, condemned the alleged misappropriation, stating, “The defendants’ alleged misappropriation and downright theft of Mr. Ryder’s protected creative work to create the third highest-grossing movie of all time is blatant and egregious.”
As the Avatar franchise remains a cornerstone of Disney’s cinematic success—having garnered over $2.3 billion globally from Avatar: The Way of Water alone—this legal battle presents a significant challenge at a critical moment for the studio.
Spokespeople from both Disney and Lightstorm Entertainment have yet to respond to the lawsuit. As this situation develops, all eyes will be on the courtroom and the impending release of the next installment in the Avatar saga.
Stay tuned for updates on this urgent legal matter as it unfolds.
