Alison Brie and Dave Franco Sued Over Alleged Theft of Indie Film Concept Behind Sundance Hit

A new lawsuit has been filed accusing Alison Brie, Dave Franco, talent agency WME, and director-screenwriter Dave Shanks of stealing the concept for their film Together, which gained recognition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The complaint comes from the producers of the 2023 indie film Better Half, who claim that Together bears significant resemblance to their earlier work. They assert that the similarities are too extensive to be coincidental and that their original screenplay served as the basis for the newer film.

Producers Allege Script Access Led to Striking Similarities Between Both Film Projects

The controversy centers around a 2019 script written by Patrick Phelan, the creator of Better Half. According to the lawsuit, the script was shared in 2020 with a WME agent representing Brie and Franco, alongside a formal $20,000 offer for the couple to take on the lead roles. Although the offer was declined and Franco and Brie did not join the project, the Better Half team claims that this interaction provided the defendants with full access to the original story and concept.

The producers of Better Half argue that the parallels between their film and Together are striking and specific. Both films reportedly revolve around a couple who become “physically fused together” as a metaphor for codependency. They also share unusual plot elements, including references to Plato’s Symposium, attempts at separation involving medical tools and chainsaws, and a climactic scene involving a Spice Girls album that symbolizes the couple’s acceptance of their bond. The suit emphasizes that these shared elements suggest more than mere inspiration—amounting instead to unauthorized copying.

Defendants Dismiss Lawsuit as Baseless, Case Heads Toward Jury Trial and Scrutiny

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for WME told Variety that the claims are “frivolous and without merit.” This firm denial indicates that the accused parties intend to contest the allegations vigorously. No direct comments have yet been issued by Brie, Franco, or Shanks, but the representation from WME signals a unified stance against the lawsuit’s legitimacy.

The lawsuit, filed by the Better Half production team, concludes with a request for a jury trial. This suggests that the plaintiffs are seeking not only legal validation but also possible financial restitution or public acknowledgment of intellectual property rights. As the case unfolds, it may prompt further industry discussions about script handling, idea ownership, and the boundaries between homage and infringement in filmmaking.