LOS ANGELES – ‘Scream 4’ will hit theaters on April 15 without the specter of a lawsuit hovering over the horror sequel. Distributor the Weinstein Co. has paid to settle a $3 million lawsuit filed by producer Cathy Konrad, who claimed she was booted from the fourth installment on the franchise after it was developed behind her back.
Terms of the settlement, which was reached months ago but has gone unreported until now, have not been disclosed. However, sources reveal that Konrad was getting a cash payment and a very small portion of any profits from the film.
Konrad sued Bob and Harvey Weinstein last May, claiming she was responsible for the development of the ‘Scream’ franchise and was entitled to a first opportunity to produce any sequels on the same financial terms as 2000’s ‘Scream 3,’ for which she received a guaranteed $550,000 plus $100,000 bonuses for domestic box office targets of $75 million, $100 million, $110 million and $125 million. (The film stalled at $89 million, the worst performer in the series.)
Konrad claimed she had planned to be involved in the fourth film, directed by Wes Craven, but she learned from media reports that the Weinsteins were planning to restart the horror series and release another installment in 2011 without including her.
The suit alleged the Weinsteins booted her on the “false pretext” that her producing services were to be exclusive to the project, which she says was not a requirement on ‘Scream 3.’ She claimed that the Weinsteins actually excluded her to lower costs and to hire Craven’s wife instead. Weinstein attorney Bert Fields denied the allegations at the time. Fields and Konrad’s attorney declined to comment on the settlement.
