Executive Producer Sues Over Missing Profit Share on Hit Film 'Obsession'

Executive producer Leonora Ann Darby filed a lawsuit against Tea Shop Productions co-founders James Harris and Mark Lane, claiming they reneged on promises to share net profits from the film 'Obsession.' Darby alleges she acted as a lead producer and helped rescue the film from a problematic edit, but was excluded from profit participation after the movie grossed over $500 million. Her lawyer says she has a detailed factual record supporting her claims.
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Darby's professional history at Tea Shop Productions began in 2019, and she subsequently worked on several company titles before her involvement with Obsession. Her 2024 compensation discussions established an arrangement granting her one-third of net profits on films she lead-produced, along with participation in collection account management agreements.
During Obsession's production, Darby advocated for returning editorial control to director Curry Barker and pushed for reshoots. Her creative input shaped character arcs and the film's supernatural elements, including the One Wish Willow. The film's $16.2 million sale to Focus Features at TIFF preceded its eventual $500 million global gross, after which Darby claims she was