Abigail Breslin said “Classified” star Aaron Eckhart’s abusive behavior toward her while filming the new singer left her refusing to be alone, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court obtained by Rolling Stone.
Breslin detailed Eckhart’s behavior to the Screen Actors Guild in a private letter, but his claims were made public on Thursday when the film’s production companies sued him for breach of contract – and accused him of “dangerous” allegations worth $80,000.
The lawsuit found that “the entire production almost came to a halt when Breslin advised the production of Eckhart’s (allegedly) cruel, humiliating, and disrespectful behavior, which he insists put him in danger at various times.”
Dream Team Studios and WM Holdings, the plaintiffs, said in the filing: “For production to continue … Breslin refused to be alone in several scenes with Eckhart, and expensive accommodations had to be made.”
A spokesperson for Eckhart did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The plaintiffs also noted that they are still not sure whether Breslin confronted Eckhart directly but they did know of a letter in which he “stated his fears and criticized Mr. Eckhart’s behavior.” Eckhart.” An on-set producer is said to have investigated her claims at the time.
He was identified in the filing only as “Mr. Georgiev,” whose “detailed” investigation concluded that “there is no evidence to support Breslin’s wild, outrageous and fanciful allegations about Eckhart.” The film, while completed, is now facing problems regarding its release.
Left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Right: Chelsea Lauren/Various/Penske Media/Getty Images
The plaintiffs said in their court that Breslin wants $ 35,000 “as a condition” to sign his final agreement, which the production companies need to sign to release the film – and to claim tax credits in Malta, where it was shot.
The producers are therefore seeking $80,000 in damages from Breslin.
A representative for Breslin did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment but told Rolling Stone that he is “not aware of any action against him” and “unequivocally stands by his statement” to the Screen Actors Guild.
“He was mad at me, and I was mad at him, but that’s the way to make movies,” he told E! in 2010. “One day, we are not allowed? Even half a day?… It’s very surprising … when people are surprised that the making of a film is sometimes difficult and uncomfortable.”
Eckhart stars in “Classified” as a CIA operative whose orders are secretly sent to a newspaper column. Things change when his estranged daughter (Breslin) reveals that his employer has been dead for years – and that he’s been killing the wrong people.
The release date of the film has not been announced.
