Director Michael Shanks, the director of Dave Franco and Alison Brie-starrer Together, says the accusations that he stole the idea of the movie is "deeply upsetting but entirely untrue." The Australian writer-director made his debut with the body horror movie, which was sold to Neon for $17 million at Sundance.
Last month Shanks and the actors were accused in a lawsuit of stealing the idea from indie film Better Half. In a statement, shared by Neon on X, Shanks said the film is inspired by his life experiences be it his 16-year-old relationship with his partner, his failed aspirations as a musician and losing his father at a young age.
“To have this called into question is not only deeply upsetting but entirely untrue... To now be accused of stealing this story — one so deeply based on my own lived experience, one I've developed over the course of several years — is devastating and has taken a heavy toll,” he said in a statement.
The film is set to be released in theatres on July 30. The lawsuit alleges that both Franco and Larson were pitched "Better Half" but their agent turned it down.