Writers Sue Issa Rae and Studio Over 'One of Them Days,' Claiming It Mirrors Their Script
It’s shaping up to be a tough few days for Issa Rae, who was recently hit with a lawsuit from three screenwriters alleging that the film she produced, “One of Them Days" is a “rip-off” of their original screenplay.
According to Complex, legal documents read that writers Tyrone Perry, Shon Oku, and Joshua Isaacson filed the lawsuit against Rae’s company, ColorCreative, TriStar, Sony Pictures and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton on July 30.
The three writers claim there were “29 similarities” in the hit film taken from their script, entitled “One Of Those Days,” from plot structure, character arcs, and overall tone.
To support their claims of similarity, the writers enlisted veteran screenwriter John Brancato, known for “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and “Catwoman,” to analyze both projects.
Brancato concluded that the overlaps were “substantial.”
According to court documents reviewed by Complex, the trio of writers shared their screenplay outside their circle for the first time in 2023, when they provided it to Danny Hamouie.
The following April, they submitted the project to producers Roman Arabia and Xavier Charles, who ultimately passed on the script. Notably, Charles had previously worked on Issa Rae’s HBO series “Insecure.”
Now, Perry, Oku, and Isaacson are seeking a jury trial, attorney’s fees, and damages.
The film was recently greenlit for a sequel, according to Deadline.
The comedy debuted with $11.8 million in January and went on to earn nearly five times that amount, bringing in $50 million at the domestic box office.
The outlet confirms the original creative team is expected to return for the follow-up.