Filmmakers sue Vivica A. Fox over lead role in Nigerian remake
Brand New Entertainment alleges breach of contract and unjust enrichment after Fox failed to report to set for The Return of Omotara Jackson
NEW YORK — A New York–based production company filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court this week, alleging that Vivica A. Fox failed to fulfill a lead role in a 2024 remake of the Nigerian Yoruba drama The Return of Omotara Jackson.
Brand New Entertainment says Fox, 61, accepted tens of thousands of dollars to star in the project but never appeared on set. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, also names Fox's longtime agent and manager, Sheila Legette, 63. Legette signed a contract with Brand New Entertainment on Sept. 6, 2024, securing Fox for the lead. The contract called for Fox to receive 25,000 on signing, 25,000 upon arriving on set, and 25,000 upon completion, with Legette to collect a 7,500 agent fee. The producers say Fox did not appear for filming even after they agreed to move the project from Nigeria to the United States. The production had raised about 250,000 from investors, and the suit says Fox and Legette have refused to return 32,500.
The exit by Fox is said to have caused reputational harm and lost business opportunities exceeding 75,000, according to the complaint. The producers are seeking the return of the 32,500 and unspecified punitive damages. Legette and a Fox publicist did not respond to requests for comment.
The project aimed to remake a 2008 Nigerian Yoruba drama, The Return of Omotara Jackson, which starred Bukky Wright. Filming had been planned for Nigeria before moving to the United States at Fox's request, the filing indicates. The case highlights the financial and logistical risks involved in cross-border remakes that seek to capitalize on Nollywood's global reach.
Fox is best known for leading roles in films such as Independence Day and Kill Bill. The lawsuit underscores the challenges small and mid-size production companies face when negotiating with high-profile actors for projects with international scope. A representative for Fox and Legette did not respond to requests for comment.
The case, Brand New Entertainment v. Fox et al, is pending in Manhattan federal court.
