Judge Rules Michael Crichton Estate’s Lawsuit Against Warner Bros. Over 'The Pitt' Can Proceed

The estate alleges 'The Pitt' is an unauthorized derivative of Crichton's iconic medical drama 'ER,' while Warner Bros. denies the claims.

A Los Angeles judge has allowed the lawsuit from Michael Crichton's estate to continue, rejecting Warner Bros.' motion to dismiss under California's anti-SLAPP statute.
The estate claims Warner Bros. breached Crichton's contract by creating 'The Pitt,' which allegedly draws from 'ER' without proper attribution or compensation.
Warner Bros., along with producer John Wells and actor Noah Wyle, argues 'The Pitt' is an entirely original show and not derived from 'ER.'
Evidence cited by the estate includes a 'frozen rights' clause in Crichton's contract and failed negotiations for an official 'ER' reboot before 'The Pitt' was developed.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 26, while 'The Pitt,' which premiered in January, has already been renewed for a second season.