Netflix: The most anticipated movie of the summer is at the center of controversy

Netflix is ​​in the spotlight again, but this time for legal reasons. The streaming platform has been accused of plagiarism for its latest highly-anticipated production: Sous la Seine, the new Xavier Gens film billed as a horror thriller.

Indeed, this “French jaw” is at the center of controversy. French director Vincent Dietsch claims that the film’s plot was inspired by his screenplay, Silure, which he came up with in 2011. the world Last April 1st (and it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke!).

The script is a little too close

Sous la Seine tells how the triathlon world championship in the capital is threatened by the appearance of a large shark in the deep waters of the river. Sofia (Bérénice Bejo), a brilliant scientist, a young environmental activist, warns about the presence of a predator. They have no choice but to team up with Adil (Naseem Lee), the head of the river police, to prevent bloodshed in the heart of the city.

Le Monde provides a synopsis of Silure, shown in a file submitted to the CNC with a request for written assistance on February 3, 2014: “A young policeman, diving in the Parisian river brigade, finds himself in front of an unprecedented natural phenomenon, which is represented by a giant catfish, terribly aggressive and a killer of people..

As the monster sows panic in the capital and threatens the mayor’s policies, just days before the city is elected to host the Olympic Games, the heroine finds herself on the front lines of a new kind of evil figure. Aided in battle by a young ichthyologist from the CNRS, he at the same time approaches his superior, the commander..”

Confrontation before the court

That’s why Vincent Ditchie decided to file a lawsuit against Netflix in mid-March. A procedure that also targets producers Edouard Dupré and Sébastien Aucher (producers of Sous la Seine), as well as agent Laurent Grégoire, to whom he read the script for Silure. Dietschy does not report plagiarism, which is very difficult to defend, but condemns “acts of parasitism“The difference is subtle and corresponds to a form of unfair competition.

The procedure, through summary proceedings, is initially aimed at preventing the release of Sous La Seine, which was scheduled for June 5. This first confrontation, originally scheduled for yesterday, Monday, April 22nd, was finally postponed to June 14th. Telerama, or after the release of the Netflix movie. And the verdict will not be handed down until June 21.