The Pitt and ER are similar enough for lawsuit to proceed, judge rules
A US court has ruled that a lawsuit alleging the new medical drama 'The Pitt' is an unauthorized reboot of 'ER' can proceed to trial. The judge found sufficient similarities between the two shows to support the claim brought by the widow of 'ER' creator Michael Crichton.
Why it matters
This case highlights the legal protections surrounding intellectual property and 'frozen rights' in television production, potentially impacting how studios develop future reboots.
Image source, HBO Max/Warner Bros Image caption, Noah Wyle stars in The Pitt, the medical series set in a Pittsburgh emergency room that first aired in 2025
US drama The Pitt is similar enough to medical series ER for a lawsuit against its producers to progress, a court in the US has ruled.
The widow of Michael Crichton, who created ER, argues The Pitt is effectively a reboot of the series, which has been made without proper permission or credit.
Sherri Crichton says her husband's contract included a "frozen rights" provision that prohibited any spin-offs, sequels or reboots of ER being made without his express consent.
A three-judge panel said there are "clear and numerous similarities between The Pitt and ER," which means the case can go ahead. Warner Bros previously described the lawsuit as "baseless" and sought to have it dismissed.
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