LOS ANGELES (CN) - The production company behind the romantic comedy "10 Things I Hate About Life" sued Evan Rachel Wood for $30 million, claiming she walked off the movie after pocketing $300,000.
10 Things Films sued Wood and her loan-out company As You Wish Productions in Superior Court, alleging breach of written agreement and breach of faith and fair dealing.
10 Things claims that in November 2012 Wood signed on to appear in the film on a $300,000 contract, then walked after the production halted in early 2013.
The producers claim to have lost "$6 million in equity investments, costs and related expenses in the picture, financing costs and expenses in the amount of, at a minimum, $500,000, lost profits in the amount of, at a minimum, $20 million and additional general and special damages in the amount of $5 million."
Wood's camp called the allegations "preposterous" and claimed the producers were to blame for the movie's troubles.
"The lawsuit is preposterous and simply a bullying tactic from financially troubled producers," Wood's representatives said in a statement. "The production shut down in February 2013 when the producers ran out of money. Even after that, Evan agreed to resume production in November 2013 by which time the producers said they would have cleared up their issues.
"However, the producers still could not get their act together, nor did they pay Evan money that was owed. Repeated subsequent promises by the producers to resume production and pay Evan also turned out to be false. Enough is enough. The producers, not Evan, have breached contract," the statement said.
But 10 Things claims that Wood walked after a brief delay in filming for "personal reasons."
The actress kept her $300,000 and refused to return to complete the film, claiming she had already completed the 11 shooting days she was required to work under contract, the 10-page lawsuit alleges.
10 Things claims Wood had agreed to work for seven weeks on the movie. Nevertheless, when the producer asked her to return to work she asked for more money, the producer claims.
Even when 10 Things agreed to pay Wood the additional sums she demanded, the actress allegedly did another about turn and refused to return to work.
"To date, defendants have patently refused to continue to render artist's material actor services despite being fully cognizant that the picture has not yet been completed, and cannot be completed; absent artist's fulfillment of her contractual service obligations embodied in the actor agreement," the lawsuit states.
Wood was slated to co-star with Thomas McDonell in the movie, a sequel to the 1999 film, "Ten Things I Hate About You."
10 Things Films is represented by Michael Trauben with Singh, Singh & Trauben of Beverly Hills.
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