Warner Bros. Fires Back at Crichton Estate Over Claim ‘The Pitt’ Is an ‘ER’ Reboot: It’s a ‘Completely Different Show’
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Warner Bros. is seeking to throw out a lawsuit filed by the estate of Michael Crichton, which argued that the forthcoming Max series “The Pitt” is an unauthorized reboot of “ER.” Crichton was a creator of “ER,” having written the original pilot script based on his own experiences as a medical student.
His widow, Sherri, sued in August, accusing John Wells, Noah Wyle and others of going behind her back to create “The Pitt,” which she alleged is “ER” in all but its title.
The studio filed a motion Monday arguing that the two shows are distinct and the lawsuit is doomed to fail. “‘The Pitt’ is a completely different show from ‘ER,'” the motion states. “Plaintiff cannot use Mr.
Crichton’s ‘ER’ contract as a speech-stifling weapon to prevent Defendants from ever making a show about emergency medicine.” Warner Bros.’ lawyers argue that Crichton’s estate does not own the idea of setting a show in a hospital.
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