Ellison Receives Settlement In Lawsuit Against Paramount
Written by Wayne Hall on October 26, 2009 – 10:00 am -
Accliamed Science Fiction Writer Harlan Ellison
It’s a Star Trek story decades in the making! But if you blinked, you missed it.
Harlan Ellison, noted science fiction writer, and CBS Paramount recently settled a lawsuit filed by the author in March regarding the original Star Trek episode, “City On The Edge Of Forever.” You know, the one that aired in 1967 and starred Joan Collins, who played a character who had brilliant visions of the future but didn’t look both ways when trying to cross the street and was run over by a truck? Yes, that one.
On Thursday, October 22, Ellison announced on his website that a settlement had finally been reached, but he didn’t reveal the terms of the agreement, accourding to Variety.
The suit accused CBS Paramount and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) of breaching the collective bargaining agreement and also accused the union of failure in its duty of providing fair representation. Ellison filed the suit in March in federal court in Los Angeles, seeking only $1 in damages plus attorneys fees and court costs from the guild. He also said Paramount failed to notify him about the “Crucible” trilogy of books based on the teleplay and merchandising that included a “talking” Christmas ornament.
“I am pleased with the outcome,” Ellison said, probably meaning he received a lot of money.
“City On The Edge Of Forever” remains a classic to many fans and critics alike. Gene Roddenberry and Ellison each received a Hugo Award for his draft of the script. When Roddenberry read Ellison’s original submission, which had Scotty dealing drugs on the Enterprise among other things, he chose to re-write the story, and thus was born a decades-old feud between Ellison and Star Trek.
CBS Paramount and the WGA had no comment.
Will this change Ellison’s perception of the Star Trek franchise? Not very likely, so expect him to continue to assail what is likely the best-known science-fiction franchise in television history.
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- Paramount Announce First Blu Ray Titles, No Trek As Of Yet
- Marvel Extends Distribution Deal With Paramount
Tags: CBS Paramount, Harlan Ellison, Joan Collins, Star Trek, Writers Guild of America
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