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The lawsuit was filed by Ronald Dickerson, a writer, actor
and film director also known as JD Lawrence, against Time Warner
Inc, Warner Brothers Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc
and Showtime Networks Inc.
Time Warner, Showtime Networks and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
all were not immediately available for comment. Warner Bros
declined to comment.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court 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 around the country from 1998-2001.
"Barbershop: The Next Cut," which stars Ice Cube, Cedric the
Entertainer, Eve and Nicki Minaj, is the latest of a series of
films about the owners of a Chicago barbershop and an Atlanta
beauty salon, their employees and neighborhood problems such as
gangs and gentrification.
Lawrence's play is about the proprietors of a barbershop and
hair salon in a predominantly African-American neighborhood, and
events in the community around the business.
The case is Ronald Dickerson aka JD Lawrence vs Time Warner Inc.
et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District Court Of New York,
No. 16-02695.
(Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Fiona
Ortiz and Leslie Adler)
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