Writer Accuses 20th Century Fox of Stealing his Script to make “In Time”

A Greek writeraccused 20thCentury Fox of stealing the idea of his movie and turning it into “ In Time,” which was released in 2011 and was directed by Andrew Niccol.

Asreported by TMZ, the legal suitfiled by Odysseus Lappasaccused the famous company of stealing a script he wrote in 1996dubbed “Time Card,” and turning it into the film starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. The film is set in a future wherepeople stop aging at 25 and must purchase additional time if theywish to continue living.

Lappas confirmedthat he officially copyrighted the script in the AmericanScreenwriters Association, andthat he was offered $80,000 for the script when he first took it toFox, but he turned the offer down as he wanted to also direct themovie. Lappas is now seeking $4.5 million in damages.

“In Time” costFox $40 million to produce, and grossed $173 million worldwide.