Screenwriter Files Lawsuit Claiming He Pitched “Zootopia” to Disney First

Writer Gary Goldman has filed a suit against Disney claiming they stole the idea for the hit film Zootopia from a pitch he presented to them. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Goldman’s suit was filed today and cites a quote from Zootopia direct Byron Howard that said “Don’t worry if you feel like you’re copying something, because if it comes through you, it’s going to filter through you and you’re going to bring your own unique perspective to it.” Furthermore, Goldman suit says he pitched an idea titled “Zootopia” to the studio, at which point he provided a treatment, illustrations, and other documents to show his idea. In fact, the suit included side by side character drawings comparing Disney’s work to what Goldman allegedly submitted:

Zootopia lawsuit

A spokesperson for Disney told THR, “Mr. Goldman’s lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations. It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn’t create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court.”