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Eva Green could make a B-movie without ending career, her agent tells court

Casino Royale actress Ms Green was due to play the lead role in dystopian thriller A Patriot.

Jess Glass
Friday 03 February 2023 11:17 EST
Eva Green (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
Eva Green (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

Actress Eva Green ā€œcould make a B-movieā€ without ending her career, her long-time agent has told the High Court in a legal battle over the collapse of a multimillion-pound sci-fi movie.

Casino Royale actress Ms Green was due to play the lead role in dystopian thriller A Patriot, but the production was abandoned in October 2019.

The 42-year-old is now suing production company White Lantern Film, claiming she is entitled to her million-dollar (Ā£810,000) fee for the project despite its cancellation.

White Lantern Film is bringing a counterclaim against the French actress, alleging she undermined the independent filmā€™s production, made ā€œexcessive creative and financial demandsā€ and had expectations ā€œincompatibleā€ with the movieā€™s budget.

Lawyers for the company and lender SMC Speciality Finance have also claimed Ms Green ā€œfraudulentlyā€ claimed to be ready and willing to make the film when she had no intention to do so.

During her evidence on Monday, Max Mallin KC, for the production company, discussed a text message from Ms Green suggesting that the film under executive producer Jake Seal would be a ā€œB-shitty-movieā€.

Ms Green told the court: ā€œWhen an actor has appeared in a B-movie they are labelled as a B-actor, you never get offered quality work ever again.ā€

She added that appearing in such a film ā€œcould kill my careerā€.

But on Friday, Charles Collier, who has been Ms Greenā€™s agent for 17 years, told the High Court that the former Bond girl was ā€œwrongā€.

He said: ā€œI heard Eva say a B-movie could be the end of her career. Sheā€™s wrong about thatā€¦ She could make a B-movie.ā€

Mr Collier, a former media lawyer, said that Ms Green had never breached a contract or failed to report for a dayā€™s work in nearly two decades.

ā€œEva, for all her dear sweet passion and love for this filmā€¦ she never breached,ā€ Mr Collier later said.

He continued: ā€œIf she has to do a B-movie, she has to do a B-movie. Thatā€™s her contract. If she has to do it, she has to do it.ā€

Mr Collier added: ā€œA B-movie would not be the end of her career, but breaching her contract and not turning up for work?.. The show must go on.ā€

During Fridayā€™s hearing, Mr Mallin suggested that Mr Collier had ā€œbeggedā€ Ms Green to work on a film with Dame Judi Dench and an experienced crew, rather than work on A Patriot.

Mr Collier replied: ā€œI certainly recall that I had advised her to do another film rather than this one.

ā€œThere were times where I felt so deeply concerned about the mess of this productionā€¦ I had real grave concerns that they could not make this film happen.ā€

The agent said he ā€œadvised her to walk awayā€ when Ms Green legally had the opportunity.

However, Mr Collier later said that Ms Green had kept wanting to make A Patriot, telling the court: ā€œEach time she had been given a safe exit route she had not taken it due to her love for the film.ā€

The trial is due to finish on February 10, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.

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