Writer Claims His Concept Was Misappropriated
In a dramatic turn of events, Sky and the executive producer of the fantasy series Britannia are facing an £6.5 million ($8.5 million) lawsuit. The lawsuit has been filed by writer Benjamin Crushcov, who alleges that his original idea and script for the show were taken without permission.
Britannia, which aired for three seasons before its cancellation in 2023, starred David Morrissey from The Walking Dead. The series followed a military leader during the Roman invasion of Britannia and was available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Epix in the U.S.
Allegations of Cover-Up
Crushcov claims that Sky and other parties conspired to cover up the origins of the show, misappropriating his concept for a heavily fictionalized historical drama titled Tribus, which he developed during his studies at Bath Spa University in 2014. He asserts that his work shares “numerous striking similarities” with Britannia, which was greenlit by Sky in 2016.
Key Figures Involved
The lawsuit names several defendants, including James Richardson, co-founder of Vertigo Films, the production company behind Britannia, and Karen Hyland, a journalist accused of passing Crushcov’s work to Richardson. According to Crushcov, Hyland expressed interest in helping him pitch the show and mentioned sharing his idea with Richardson on multiple occasions.
Sky and Vertigo Respond
In response to the allegations, Sky, Vertigo, and Hyland issued a joint statement claiming there is “no basis” for the lawsuit. They maintained that they were unaware of Crushcov’s script until he raised his concerns.
Crushcov provided messages from Hyland that indicated enthusiasm for his project, with one note suggesting 2016 would be the “year of Tribus.” However, Hyland has denied any wrongdoing and stated that she did not share Crushcov’s script with Vertigo.
Support from Industry Peers
Notably, Robin Mukherjee, a screenwriter for EastEnders who mentored Crushcov, observed that the similarities between Tribus and Britannia were “too many and too exact” to be mere coincidence. Crushcov has compiled a schedule detailing the likenesses between the character names and plot lines of both projects.
Seeking Damages and an Apology
Crushcov’s legal battle began in earnest after he confronted Richardson in 2019 about his concerns. Following this, he sent a cease and desist notice to Sky in 2020, prompting an investigation by the broadcaster.
Sky responded that the final treatment for Britannia was completed in 2013 and that Richardson had never seen Crushcov’s script. Crushcov is now seeking £6.5 million in damages, including compensation for lost earnings and a public apology.
The Road Ahead
As the case unfolds, all parties involved assert that they will vigorously defend against these claims. Crushcov, determined to seek justice for what he believes is a misappropriation of his work, continues to push forward with his legal battle.
