URGENT UPDATE: A new federal lawsuit has just been filed against James Cameron and Walt Disney Co., escalating tensions just days before the release of the highly anticipated third film in the Avatar franchise, titled Avatar: Fire and Ash. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accuses the creators of Avatar: The Way of Water of infringing on a writer’s copyright.
Eric Ryder, a 3D animator, claims that elements from his original science fiction story, KRZ, were copied for the blockbuster released in December 2022. Ryder alleges that the alleged copying is not only significant but also specific to The Way of Water, raising the stakes as the franchise gears up for its next installment on November 22, 2023.
The lawsuit follows a previous case where Ryder’s claims regarding the original Avatar were dismissed by a California state court, which found that Cameron had created the film before Ryder submitted his work to Lightstorm Entertainment. However, this time, Ryder asserts that the copying of his work has occurred anew, stating, “This action is not an attempt to relitigate prior claims. It challenges new acts of copying that occur for the first time in Avatar 2.”
Ryder details several similarities between KRZ and the Avatar universe, highlighting themes of anthropomorphic beings, an oceanic setting, and a corporation engaged in environmentally destructive mining operations on a gas giant’s moon. Particularly contentious is a plot point involving the harvesting of a life-extending substance from animals, which Ryder claims is a direct lift from his narrative.
In a striking demand, Ryder is seeking a staggering USD $500 million in damages and is pushing for a court order to block the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash if his claims are validated. His attorney, Daniel Saunders, condemned the alleged appropriation, 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, and it cries out for compensation.”
As of now, representatives from Disney and Lightstorm Entertainment have not commented on the lawsuit, leaving fans and industry insiders anxious about the implications of this legal battle on the franchise’s future. With the Avatar series already a monumental success—Avatar: The Way of Water grossing over USD $2.3 billion globally—this lawsuit adds a significant layer of uncertainty to Disney’s cinematic juggernaut.
As the release date for Avatar: Fire and Ash approaches, all eyes will be on the courtroom and the potential fallout from this explosive legal challenge. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
