Abigail Breslin accused Aaron Eckhart of behaving in an ‘aggressive, demeaning, and unprofessional’ manner with her while they were making the movie Classified, and ‘refused to be alone’ with the actor.
Producers of the film noted the ‘wild’ claims in an $80,000 lawsuit they filed against the actress, 27, who has not signed a contract allowing them to put out the movie, The Blast reported Thursday after reviewing legal documents.
Producers with Dream Team Studio and WM Holdings said in legal docs filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court that an internal investigation revealed there was no evidence to support the allegations, the outlet reported.
In legal docs, producers said that ‘during the course of production, the entire production almost ground to a halt when Breslin advised the production of Eckhart’s of aggressive, demeaning, and unprofessional behavior which she insisted placed her at various times in peril.’
Producers said that demands from the Oscar-nominated actress added significant expenses to their bottom line.
The latest: Abigail Breslin, 27, accused Aaron Eckhart, 55, of behaving in an ‘aggressive, demeaning, and unprofessional’ manner with her while they were making the movie Classified, and ‘refused to be alone’ with the actor. Pictured in LA in October
‘In order for the production to continue, among other things,’ producers said in legal docs, ‘Breslin refused to be alone in several scenes with Eckhart and costly accommodations had to be made by the production to accommodate Breslin’s demands or else Breslin would not continue to perform her contractual obligations.’
The Little Miss Sunshine actress also penned a letter to SAG-AFTRA ‘blasting Mr. Eckhart’s behavior’ and expressing her ‘fears’ about his conduct.
Producers said in legal docs that they took the allegations seriously and ordered a probe into Eckhart’s conduct.
‘Due to the obligation under the SAG-AFTRA Adherence Letter, which obligates a producer signatory to “provide a safe set,”‘ producers told the court, ‘the on-set producer … ultimately prepared a report based on a detailed investigation into Breslin’s claims and behavior, and he submitted the report.’
A producer identified in legal docs as Mr. Georgiev ‘found no evidence in support to Breslin’s wild, hysterical, and imaginary allegations against Eckhart,’ producers said in legal docs, Rolling Stone reported.
The motion picture stars Eckhart as Evan Shaw, ‘a career CIA hitman who’s been solely using the classified section of various newspapers to receive his orders [who] suddenly learns from his estranged daughter that his division’s actually been shut down for years,’ according to an iMDb synopsis.
In May, Deadline reported that the movie – which is directed by Roel Reiné and also stars Tim Roth, Matt Hookings, Myles Clohessy and Kim DeLonghi – finished principal photography while on location in Malta.
Producers said in court docs that Breslin’s ‘specious’ and ‘unnecessary accommodations’ added more than $80,000 to costs.
The Little Miss Sunshine actress also penned a letter to SAG-AFTRA ‘blasting Mr. Eckhart’s behavior’ and expressing her ‘fears’ about his conduct
The actress, pictured in February in Santa Barbara, California, was named in an $80,000 lawsuit producers of the film Classified filed against her
Breslin’s signing of the contract was essential prior to the film being released, and for them to claim Malta’s tax credits offered, producers said.
Producers said that Breslin’s team has asked for a $35,000 for her to sign the contracts that will allow them to release the film, in a demand they likened to ‘extortion.’
Producers also told the court that there were potential ‘delivery issues’ over scenes in which Breslin and Eckhart appeared together.
Breslin’s ‘refusal’ to sign the contract, producers said, ‘has completely imperiled the financial wellbeing of the production, including concluding distribution agreements and delivering under the terms of existing distribution agreements.’
An attorney for the producers named Jeffrey Konvitz told Rolling Stone that should the actress not sign the agreement, ‘delivery can’t be made or the tax credit fails because of her unsigned agreement, the damages will be massive based on the interference claim.’
Breslin’s rep told Rolling Stone that she was ‘not aware of any action filed against her and has not been served with any legal notice.’
The actress ‘categorically denies all contended allegations and unequivocally stands by her statement which she provided confidentially to SAG.’
