Richard Gere countersued by producers

Washington: Actor Richard Gere has been countersued for trying to “steal” a project from his producing partners, just days after he sued them for allegedly trying to extort him.

Gere sued Random Acts Entertainment and its owners Scott and Anna Elias on April 27 for breach of contract, claiming he was being extorted for 500,000 dollars after a producing partnership fell apart over creative differences, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The 68-year-old actor is fighting with the banner over a a 2009 joint production agreement for a film adaptation of the book ‘Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia’.

Gere claims he secured screenplay approval rights and because Anna Elias’ draft was ‘woefully inadequate’ he couldn’t commit to starring in the project. He says he was subsequently threatened with an insulting and defamatory lawsuit.

Scott and Anna Elias on Wednesday filed a cross-complaint alleging breaches of written agreement, the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and fiduciary duty.(ANI)