Harper Lee estate sues over Broadway's Mockingbird play

The estate of To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee has sued the producer of an upcoming Broadway adaptation, arguing that writer Aaron Sorkin's script deviates too much from the beloved novel about race relations in the Depression-era U.S. South.

Aaron Sorkin's play slated to begin previews in November, open in December

Thomson Reuters Posted: Mar 15, 2018 9:50 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 15, 2018

The estate of To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee is suing the producer of the novel's upcoming Broadway adaptation by Aaron Sorkin, arguing that the script deviates too much from the beloved novel. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The estate of To Kill a Mockingbirdauthor Harper Lee has sued the producer of an upcoming Broadwayadaptation, arguing that writer Aaron Sorkin's script deviatestoo much from the beloved novel about race relations in the Depression-era U.S.South.

The lawsuit filed on Tuesday in federal court in Alabamaasks a judge to resolve a contract dispute with producer ScottRudin by giving the estate final say on whether Sorkin's scriptdeparts from the spirit of the 1960 novel or alters itscharacters.

The estate's representative, Tonja B. Carter, alleges thatthe script alters several characters, including protagonistAtticus Finch, who is portrayed as being initially naive toracism.

The script also "did not present a fair depiction of1930s small-town Alabama" by tying it to today's social climate,according to the suit.

The lawsuit argues that Sorkin's Mockingbird script deviates too much from Lee's beloved novel about race relations in the Depression-era U.S. South. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Carter said Sorkin, an Oscar winner and the creator ofEmmy-winning TV series including the political drama The WestWing,added two characters to the script and told trademagazine Playbill that the book as written "doesn't work at all"as a play.

To Kill a Mockingbird heading to Broadway

Previews to start in November

The play is set to open in preview on Nov. 1 in New York andstars Jeff Daniels as Finch, a lawyer who defends a black managainst a false rape charge in the racially charged 1930s South.Opening night is slated for Dec. 13.

Mockingbird stars Jeff Daniels, at right, as Atticus Finch, reuniting the actor with Sorkin, who also created the TV series The Newsroom. (HBO Canada)

Representatives for Rudin and Sorkin did not immediatelyrespond to a message seeking comment.

The suit alleges Rudin ignored and resisted Carter, and thata February draft of the play "exacerbated her concerns," according to thecomplaint filed in U.S. District Court for theSouthern District of Alabama.

In response, an attorney for Rudin's company, Rudinplay Inc,said in a letter to the estate that the company and not theestate had final say over the script, according to the lawsuit.

Rudin is a major Broadway and Hollywood producer, having wonan Oscar and multiple Tony Awards, often earning honours forrevivals of mid-century American theatre.

Lee died in 2016 at age 89.

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird author, dead at 89

Gregory Peck won a best actor Academy Award for his performance in the acclaimed 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. (AP/Universal File)

To Kill a Mockingbirdwas met with high praise on itspublication, winning the Pulitzer Prize and earning Gregory Peckan Academy Award for best actor in the acclaimed 1962 screenadaptation.

In Lee's only other novel, Go Set a Watchman,published in2015 but written before Mockingbird,Finch is depicted as abigot and racist who opposed desegregation efforts in the UnitedStates.

Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman draws hype and controversy

Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman: A cheat sheet

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Harper Lee estate sues over Broadway's Mockingbird play

Aaron Sorkin's play slated to begin previews in November, open in December

Previews to start in November

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