Screenwriter sues ‘What Men Want’ producers for copyright infringement
In a twist worthy of Hollywood drama, screenwriter Joe Carlini has filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, producer Will Packer, and BET. He’s claiming copyright infringement over the 2019 film “What Men Want.” The film stars Taraji P. Henson and Tracy Morgan. Also, it entertained audiences with its unique plot. Henson played as a sports agent who gains the ability to read men’s thoughts after drinking a special concoction given by Erykah Badu’s character.
According to Dailymail, Carlini alleges that he developed a similar concept years before “What Men Want” hit theaters. His screenplay, titled “What The F Is He Thinking?” shared a central plot point involving a woman who gains the ability to hear men’s thoughts and featured cameos from famous athletes. Thus, much like “What Men Want.”
Court documents reveal that Carlini and his co-writer, David Collins, completed the screenplay in 2015. After that, they began pitching it to various production companies. The companies include Weinstein Company (now Lantern Entertainment), Montage Films, and Bloom. In July 2017, Carlini met with a representative from Bloom. Thus, hoping to solidify a business relationship for his film.
However, the screenplay never found a home. Carlini now believes that one of the defendants approached Taraji P. Henson with the plot he created, noting that there was no screenplay when Henson first heard about the film. He claims principal photography for “What Men Want” began just five months after Henson’s involvement, without a complete script in place.
In his lawsuit, Carlini is seeking unspecified damages and all profits made from “What Men Want,” which grossed $72 million worldwide. The case highlights the ongoing issues of originality and intellectual property in the film industry. As a result, raising questions about how ideas are protected and credited.
As this legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on Carlini’s claims and what impact this might have on future Hollywood productions.
