Will Smith Wins Copyright Violation Case Against “Gemini Man”

Oscar-winning actor Will Smith’s significant victory in the “Gemini Man” case allows him to pursue other endeavors.

The actor has been exonerated in a case brought by a science fiction writer who said that the 2019 movie “Gemini Man” was a ripoff of his writing. 

Skydance Productions, Paramount Pictures, Gemini Pictures, David Ellison, and other defendants were sued for copyright infringement along with Will Smith.

Will Smith Get Off the Hook? The Case Against Other Defendants Is Still Open

In the Kissinger Sibanda case, on January 31st, a federal court formally rejected all accusations against Will. But the author can still pursue his remaining claims against the other defendants because the judge has not decided to dismiss the entire complaint.

Sibanda sued Will and the production firms for $1.7 million back in August 2024, alleging that the “Gemini Man” movie duplicated his science fiction book “The Return to Gibraltar.”

As Sibanda told In Touch, “the book details an African American who is cloned and used in a time-traveling program without his permission.”

Sibanda clarified that the film’s development history, which began with the original script’s writing in 1997, has been lengthy and problematic. Several actors were considered for the starring part throughout the years until Will finally accepted it.

According to the science fiction author, the production companies stole the themes and plots from his book.

Sibanda remembered mailing copies of his book to the most well-known talent agency in Hollywood and handing one to Will’s stunt double. His complaint said:

“The defendants struggled to make the movie until [he] released his book in 2011 thereafter, they changed the film’s marketing strategy – taking themes, plots, characterizations, context, and cultural subtexts from the book to create their movie, Gemini Man.”

The author made the case that, within a cinematic framework, his book emphasized the cultural relevance of its black protagonist. In contrast to merely offering discrete concepts and data, he asserted that it offered a whole account of cloning and its scientific ramifications.

The protagonist is also subjected to the literary device of deceit in a cloned army. Remarkably, the main character in The Return to Gibraltar is a Harvard guy, much like the younger Will Smith clone in Gemini guy,” the complaint said.

The author said that in 2020, he wrote a formal letter to the defendants, but they did not reply or offer him a monetary settlement.

According to reports, in November the defendants filed a response to the lawsuit.

The author’s complaint was answered by Will, Ellison, and the production firms in November 2024. They said the author could not raise the same allegations again since he had already tried to do so in a case that was dismissed for a number of reasons. 

Interestingly, Sibanda failed to register his copyright before filing, and the court rejected his whole claim. The director was not mentioned as a defendant in that previous litigation. 

The author was cautioned that the allegations of civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment were factually and legally deficient, but he still hurriedly filed a fresh case shortly after this decision.

An estimated $138 million was spent on “Gemini Man” before marketing costs, although the film only made $173 million at the box office worldwide.

The captivating plot of the $100 million-grossing film

“Gemini Man” is a science fiction action thriller that began as a 1997 script by Darren Lemke and took more than 20 years to produce before coming to theaters. 

Will plays skilled marksman Harry Brogan in the movie, which was leaked by The Blast. He is hunted by a younger version of himself called Junior, who was made by his old Army buddy Clay Verris, played by Benedict Wong. 

Running a private assassin company, Verris surreptitiously collected Brogan’s DNA 25 years before creating Junior with the intention of eradicating the original Brogan. 

Intense pursuits between the two Brogans take place in a number of foreign locales during the novel, such as Georgia, Colombia, and Hungary.

Will’s defense team teammate is supporting his persona.

He travels with the Intelligence Agency, portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Their pilot, played by Wong, brings a humorous element to the intense combat. 

When Verris’s plans start to come to pass, Brogan’s wish for a quiet existence in a tiny town is suddenly dashed, and he is forced to return to action in order to put an end to the turmoil and eliminate the threat.

The Distinctive Marriage Arrangement of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Since the actor and his wife live apart, it’s possible that they won’t be able to celebrate his significant court victory together at home. Although they are still very much together, the pair prioritizes leading their separate lives, according to The Blast.

Call it what you like. They haven’t entirely broken off their relationships, but they are leading their own lives,” a source verified. Though he feels a little let down by Hollywood, Will is reportedly focused on his music and film careers and seems to be doing well. 

With the emergence of fresh chances for achievement, this perspective could alter. There are also rumors that Jada has a home in Calabasas that is conveniently close to Will’s house.

Jada revealed in an interview in 2023 that she and Will had lived apart since 2016 but had chosen not to get a divorce.
Will Smith’s next move?