M. Night Shyamalan goes on trial in plagiarism case for his 'Servant' series

A plagiarism trial against M. Night Shyamalan began Tuesday in Riverside, California. Francesca Gregorini, the complainant, believes that the series Servant made by the filmmaker for Apple TV+ is pure and simple plagiarism of The Truth About Emanuela 2013 film that she directed. She is seeking $81 million in damages.

Francesca Gregorini's lawyer, Patrick Arenz, showed the jurors extracts from the two works which feature a mother who takes care of a doll as if it were a real baby, with the complicity of a nanny. “It’s a simple case,” he said, according to Varietyto the jury. There would have been no Servant without Emanuel. »

Conflicting versions

For its part, the defense assures that Tony Basgallop, the British creator of the series, had started developing the project well before the release of Francesca Gregorini's film.

“She’s looking to make her fortune,” attorney Brittany Amadi said. She's asking for $81 million for work she didn't do. » In 2020, a first complaint was rejected before the court of appeal relaunched the case, considering that there was a real debate on the “substantial similarity” between the two works.