Warner Bros. TV Denies Michael Crichton Estate’s “Baseless” Lawsuit Claims

Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind the iconic NBC medical drama ER and the upcoming Max series The Pitt, has responded to a lawsuit filed earlier today by Sherri Crichton. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the John Michael Crichton Trust’s Roadrunner JMTC. Sherri Crichton is the widow of Michael Crichton, the creator of ER.

“The lawsuit filed by the Crichton Estate is baseless, as The Pitt is a new and original show,” the studio stated. “Any suggestion otherwise is false, and Warner Bros. Television intends to vigorously defend against these meritless claims.”

The lawsuit alleges that after ending a year-long negotiation with the Crichton Estate for a sequel to ER involving former ER executive producer John Wells, the studio proceeded to launch The Pitt. This new show features the same creative leadership but shifts the setting from Chicago to Pittsburgh.

According to the lawsuit, Wells, along with Amblin TV, were essential components WBTV needed to secure, in addition to the Crichton Estate, to make an ER follow-up viable. Negotiations with the estate fell through in April 2023 due to disagreements over financial terms. The negotiations were extensive but failed to meet a mutually agreeable outcome.

During these discussions, Wells was also in talks with ER star Noah Wyle and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill about a potential reboot of the series. Notably, these are the same key players now involved with The Pitt.

“The Pitt is ER. It’s not like ER, it’s not kind of ER, it’s not sort of ER. It is ER, complete with the same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio, and network as the planned ER reboot,” argues the lawsuit. It accuses WBTV, Wells, Wyle, and Gemmill of Breach of Contract, Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations. It is important to note that Amblin TV, though aware of The Pitt, is not believed to have any claims over these alleged connections to ER.

Rumors had been circulating about a potential medical show reuniting Wells and Wyle, especially as healthcare workers returned to public attention during the pandemic. When negotiations for ER ended abruptly a week before the WGA strike, progress stalled for months. Eventually, Wells and Gemmill, with Wyle’s involvement, pitched The Pitt to the studio in late 2023 or early 2024. The series received a 15-episode straight-to-series order from Max, announced on March 26.

According to the official description, The Pitt offers a realistic look at the challenges facing healthcare workers in present-day America, focusing on the frontline heroes working in a modern hospital in Pittsburgh.

‘The Pitt’ Drama Series Starring Noah Wyle Adds 9 To Recurring Cast

Source: Deadline, Particlenews