Is The Pitt an unauthorized ER reboot? Court approves lawsuit alleging yes
A California appeals court has ruled that a lawsuit against Warner Bros. regarding the show 'The Pitt' can proceed to trial. The estate of Michael Crichton alleges the show is an unauthorized reboot of 'ER', violating a contract that required approval for any spin-offs.
Why it matters
The case highlights the legal complexities of intellectual property rights and the definition of 'reboots' in the television industry.
The lawsuit was filed by Sherri Crichton, widow of Michael Crichton, who created the TV series ER in the 1990s based on a film script he wrote about his time as a medical student.
He died in 2008. But in 1994, when he signed a contract with Warner Bros. Television for ER, it explicitly said no spin-offs or reboots could be made without his — or his estate's — approval, according to documents filed in the Court of Appeal of the State of California.
In her initial lawsuit, Sherri Crichton says she engaged in negotiations to develop a reboot in 2022, but they were unable to reach an agreement.
Warner Bros. continued to develop The Pitt anyway.
Crichton filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. alleging The Pitt was an unauthorized reboot in August 2024, nearly five months before the new series debuted.
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