ScarJo Sues French Publisher over use of her name in novel

I think SJ has been ridiculous. For a start off, if someone wants to make a film of it, who else will they ask to play the FMC? Guaranteed job!

Unless the character is doing something horrible while everyone thinks she's Scarlett, I really don't see what she's in a heap over. She's a public figure.

I always thought she took herself a little too seriously.

I think it's happened before that an actor was named in a book and another actor was used in the movie. I can't remember which one it was but I'm positive I read it somewhere.

Another frivolous, and stupid, lawsuit.

I'm thinking of Bridget Jones's Diary where she talks a lot about Mr. Darcy from the movie version of Pride and Prejudice (which had just come out with Colin Firth) and then he—delightfully—starred in the Bridget Jones movie, which was AWESOME. Can't remember if author Helen Fielding mentions Firth directly in the book. I would think it would be flattering to be mentioned in a work of fiction as someone that's generally known as attractive. But, you know, some folks gotta take the douche road.

I dunno, I think she might have a point. For those sixty pages to all intents and purposes the person in the book is Scarlett Johansson. How much of a book can be "mistaken identity" like this? The entire book as long as the last page they find out it's not really that person?

The fact the writer...

...also noted that he compared the main male character to Ryan Gosling and his boss to Gene Hackman in the book as an almost immediate way to invoke recognition of characteristics for readers.

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...is telling to me. "Describing" your characters by comparing them to famous people is just lazy, in my opinion. Also, it doesn't sound like any part of the book made it appear that Ryan Gosling was working for Gene Hackman, so it's not the same as having a character appear to actually be Scarlett Johansson for sixty pages.

Whether there's anything actionable, who knows? Would have to go to court to find out. But to me at the very least the writer is trying to pull a fast one.

Becky, the book is a satire on the celeb take over of media and, to some extent, society. So you calling it 'lazy' kind of proves the author's point.

folkchick said:

I'm thinking of Bridget Jones's Diary where she talks a lot about Mr. Darcy from the movie version of Pride and Prejudice (which had just come out with Colin Firth) and then he—delightfully—starred in the Bridget Jones movie, which was AWESOME. Can't remember if author Helen Fielding mentions Firth directly in the book.

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The casting for that movie was hilarious. Yeah, she mentions Colin Firth in the book. Then in the second book, Bridget Jones actually interviews Colin Firth.

Hugh Grant is mentioned in the first Bridget Jones book too. I believe they're talking about celebrity news stories, and this was when he had that scandal with a prostitute, so that was brought up.

Alitriona said:

I think it's happened before that an actor was named in a book and another actor was used in the movie. I can't remember which one it was but I'm positive I read it somewhere.

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In the James Bond novels, Commander Bond was explicitly described as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

LJD said:

The casting for that movie was hilarious. Yeah, she mentions Colin Firth in the book. Then in the second book, Bridget Jones actually interviews Colin Firth.

Hugh Grant is mentioned in the first Bridget Jones book too. I believe they're talking about celebrity news stories, and this was when he had that scandal with a prostitute, so that was brought up.

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Apparently Hugh Grant was annoyed about that and told Helen Fielding when they were making the film!

Alitriona said:

I think it's happened before that an actor was named in a book and another actor was used in the movie. I can't remember which one it was but I'm positive I read it somewhere.

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In Catch-22, Maj. Major Major Major was described as looking like Henry Fonda; Heller hoped that when the movie was made the character would be played by either Henry Foinda or someone who looked nothing like Henry Fonda (in the end it was Bob Newhart).

I read it too long ago to remember if other characters mentioned the resemblance or only the narration did.

Was this book selling well before this happened?

Because I can't help but think this will only help sales. Y'know, as controversies do. People will buy the book to see what all the fuss is about -- at least, I feel this is the obvious result.

If SJ was really that upset about it, why is she leveraging her fame in favor of his sales? It's not like it's a clear-cut case of defamation; if anything I think it's making her look kind of bad in the realm of public opinion, and I don't know anything about French law but I can't imagine this is going to be cut and dried.

Becky Black said:

For those sixty pages to all intents and purposes the person in the book is Scarlett Johansson.

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Without reading the book, who knows? It may be very clear to the reader that it's not Scarlett Johansson, even if it's not to the character.

slhuang said:

Was this book selling well before this happened?

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I read about this in the Independent, and I believe it was a bestseller in France, but only published in French. I bet there is a scramble for translation rights now . . .

The thing is, the book is hinged on the idea of celebrity doppelgangers. I don't remember John Malkovich threatening to sue for Being John Malkovich.

Unless the author made it clear that the characters thought it was the actor, but the readers knew it wasn't, I'd have to agree with Becky as far as Johansson's reaction, especially for that many pages. Bit like real-person fanfic...

Someone get the woman a sense of humour and perspective. It is not her, it's someone mistaken for her.

Adding to the list - isn't the X-men character Ryan Reynolds plays described as looking just like Ryan Reynolds in the comics? I don't read them but I think I read that someplace.

Hmm... on one hand, I can see her point. Celebrity fan fiction is very annoying. This would annoy the hell out of me if it was me. So, I guess that means I lack a sense of humor, too. For me, it's a matter of respect. At the very least, if the character appears to be a real living person for a great percentage of the novel, and it's fiction, you could at least ask for permission to use their likeness.

Or use someone whose already dead.

It would also depend on what the character does while they still appear to be her. Criminal activity? Deviant sexual activity? Doesn't she also have the right to publicity?

jeffo20 said:

Without reading the book, who knows? It may be very clear to the reader that it's not Scarlett Johansson, even if it's not to the character.

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That would be fair enough. The way the article says "it is revealed" that she's not, kind of implies that it's only revealed then to the reader too, but who knows if that accurately represents how it's done in the book?

Also, who knows how much Scarlett Johansson herself actually knows about the lawsuit? It's probably all been done by her agent or legal advisors, or whatever, so her "sense of humour" or lack of one may not enter into it.

Becky Black said:

That would be fair enough. The way the article says "it is revealed" that she's not, kind of implies that it's only revealed then to the reader too, but who knows if that accurately represents how it's done in the book?

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Fair point. As for the translator program, I wouldn't hang a lawsuit on it, that's for sure.

I highly (repeat highly) doubt that ScarJo is the one fussing about this, but rather, her "team" (agents/lawyers, etc).

For me, I can see why they're doing it. It seems to push a toe over a line that I cannot articulate because I'm a big law-dummy.

I'd just like to say that the abbreviation of Scarlett Johansson to "ScarJo" is somewhere up there with dentist's drills and fingernails on blackboards.

Ken said:

...
... and to be honest, I could understand why SJ might be ruffled,
in view of the fictional affair she has.
Legal issues aside, that's gotta be a bit unsettling even for a celeb used to all the tabloids and whatnot.
(If it's satire, like Miranda says,
it's kinda spot-on in this day-and-age!)

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Seriously? I don't see anything there to get upset at, it just reads as being very French.