Will Smith Emerges Victorious In ‘Gemini Man’ Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

Award-winning actor Will Smith can now move on to other projects after his big win in the "Gemini Man" lawsuit.

The actor has successfully cleared his name in a lawsuit filed by a science fiction author who claimed that the 2019 film "Gemini Man" was a copy of his work. 

Will Smith was sued alongside Skydance Productions, Gemini Pictures, Paramount Pictures, David Ellison, and various other defendants for copyright infringement.

A federal judge officially dismissed all claims against Will on January 31st in the case filed by Kissinger Sibanda. However, the judge has decided not to dismiss the entire lawsuit, allowing the author to proceed with his remaining claims against the other defendants.

Back in August 2024, Sibanda initiated a lawsuit for $1.7 million against several parties, including Will and the production companies, claiming the "Gemini Man" film plagiarized his science fiction novel, "The Return to Gibraltar."

According to In Touch, Sibanda stated that "the book details an African American who is cloned and used in a time-traveling program without his permission."

Sibanda explained that the film has had a long and troubled development history, dating back to 1997, when the original script was written. Over the years, various actors were considered for the lead role before Will ultimately took it on.

Sibanda recalled giving a copy of his book to Will's stunt double and sending copies to Hollywood's most prominent talent agent. His lawsuit read:

"The defendants struggled to make the movie until [he] released his book in 2011 thereafter they changed the film's marketing strategy – taking themes, plots, characterizations, context, and cultural subtexts from the book to create their movie, Gemini Man."

The author argued that his book highlighted the cultural significance of its black protagonist in a cinematic context. He also claimed it provided a comprehensive narrative explaining cloning and its scientific implications rather than just presenting isolated ideas and facts.

"In addition to the literary tool of deception in a cloned army used against the protagonist. Interestingly enough, the protagonist in The Return to Gibraltar is a Harvard man, similar to the younger version of the Will Smith cloned in Gemini Man," the lawsuit concluded.

The author stated that he sent a legal letter to the defendants in 2020, but they failed to respond or provide him with any kind of financial settlement.

In November 2024, Will, Ellison, and the production companies responded to the lawsuit filed by the author. They argued that the writer had previously attempted to bring similar claims in a case that had been dismissed for multiple reasons, noting that he could not pursue the same claims again. 

Notably, the director was not named as a defendant in that earlier lawsuit, and the court had dismissed Sibanda's entire action due to his failure to register his copyright before filing. 

Shortly after this ruling, the author hastily filed a new complaint that included claims of civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment despite being warned that these claims were legally and factually inadequate.

"Gemini Man" reportedly had an estimated budget of $138 million before marketing expenses, but it only managed to generate $173 million in global box office revenue.

"Gemini Man" is a science fiction action thriller that traces its origins back to a script by Darren Lemke from 1997, spending over two decades in development before finally reaching audiences. 

As shared by The Blast, the film stars Will as Harry Brogan, a master sharpshooter who is pursued by a younger clone of himself, known as Junior, created by his former Army friend, Clay Verris, portrayed by Benedict Wong. 

Verris, running a private assassin business, secretly extracted Brogan's DNA 25 years prior tocreate Junior, aiming to eliminate the original Brogan.

The story unfolds in various international locations, including Colombia, Hungary, and Georgia, as the two versions of Brogan engage in intense pursuits.

Supporting Will's character is his colleague from the Defense Intelligence Agency, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who joins him on this chaotic journey. Their pilot, portrayed by Wong, adds a layer of comic relief to the high-stakes action. 

Brogan's desire for a peaceful life in a small village is abruptly interrupted when Verris's plans begin to materialize, forcing him back into action to confront the chaos and ultimately resolve the threat.

The actor may not get to celebrate his impressive court win with his wife in his home, as sources confirmed that they live separately. The Blast noted that while the couple are still very much together, they focus on living their individual lives.

"Call it what you want. They are living their own lives but haven't completely severed ties," a source confirmed. Will is said to be focused on his film and music career and appears to be doing well, although he feels somewhat disillusioned with Hollywood. 

However, this outlook may change with the arrival of new opportunities for success. Additionally, reports indicate that Jada owns a house in Calabasas, conveniently located near Will's residence.

In 2023, Jada disclosed in an interview that she and Will had lived separately since 2016 but decided not to divorce.

What is next for Will Smith?