Author and science fiction legend Harlan Ellison has sued to block the release of the forthcoming action-thriller “In Time“ claiming it rips off his award-winning1965 short story “Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman.”
The film had been scheduled for wide release Oct. 28 via 20th Century Fox and New Regency. Costars include Matt Bomer, Cillian Murphy, Amanda Seyfried, Alex Pettyfer and Olivia Wilde.
“It is truly outrageous that (director) Andrew Nicoll and Regency have gone behind (Ellison’s) back to create a movie based on this iconic and valuable work without any attempt to obtain his authorization or to accord him credit,” read a statement released by the firm representing Ellison.
In fact, the lawyer claims, several critics who have attended advance screening of “In Time” have taken note of the similarities.
“For years, according to Ellison, he has resisted producer interest in adapting the story into film, but in late 2010, Ellison’s company The Kilimanjaro Corporation, entered into an agreement with a third party to create a screenplay based on the story so that it could be sold or licensed to a Hollywood studio,” notes The Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s hard to get a read whether he’s seen the new film, but since copyright law protects expression and not ideas, he could face a hurdle in proving illegal misappropriation unless the complaint is further amended.”
See our earlier story below for background.
EARLIER
One of the buzzier film projects to emerge from the Comic-Con cacaphony this month is called “In Time,” a sci-fi thriller starring the hot-right-now duo Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. The film posits a future where no one lives past the age of 25—except for those who can afford to “buy time” and extend their lives. As they say, complications ensue.
The movie was written and directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca,” “The Truman Show“) and features a starry supporting cast: Matt Bomer (“White Collar“), Johnny Galecki (“The Big Bang Theory“), Bella Heathcote, Vincent Kartheiser (“Mad Men“), Cillian Murphy (“Batman Begins“), Alex Pettyfer (“I Am Number Four“) and Olivia Wilde (“Cowboys & Aliens“), among others.
Timberlake told the Comic-Con press corps he was intrigued by the idea of society working out a way to stay young indefinitely. His character “wakes up with 24 hours on his body clock, so he only has a day to live. I just fell in love with the man he was. [I liked] the idea of what would you do, how would you live.”
He told Wired.com the film takes the premise behind the ’70s sci-fi classic “Logan’s Run” and builds on it. “We figured out how to look 25 forever,” he said. “The bad part is, what happens at that point is your body clock starts and you have a year of time to live. So basically you start running out of time.” 
Nefarious “timekeepers” come after Timberlake’s character, who kidnaps Seyfried as he is on the run. “We slowly [become] closer until we are naked together,” Seyfried joked.
“In Time” is set for nationwide release on October 28 via 20th Century Fox.
Trivia: Costar Bella Heathcote is an Australian performer who made her debut in 2008 and costarred in the popular soap opera “Neighbours.” She was the recipient of a May 2010 Heath Ledger Scholarship handed out by the organization Australians in Film. Soon afterwards, she was hand-picked by director Tim Burton to costar in his bigscreen adaptation of “Dark Shadows” to be released next summer.