A California federal jury on Friday exonerated director M. Night Shyamalan and others from allegations that his Apple TV+ series Servant plagiarized an independent filmmaker’s 2013 movie, The Truth About Emanuel. The jury found no evidence that Shyamalan or co-defendant Tony Basgallop, the show’s creator, had access to the film, ending a five-year legal battle with screenwriter Francesca Gregorini, who sought over $81 million in damages.
Jury Clears Defendants of Copyright Infringement
The jury’s decision hinged on a lack of access to The Truth About Emanuel, which starred Jessica Biel and was showcased at Sundance but saw limited box office success. Without proof of access, the jury did not address whether the works were substantially similar.
Basgallop expressed relief after the verdict, calling the trial “a first and hopefully a last” experience. Shyamalan declined to comment, while Gregorini’s attorney, Patrick M. Arenz of Robins Kaplan LLP, also withheld comment.
Disputed Similarities Between Servant and The Truth About Emanuel
Both productions involve delusional mothers who treat lifelike dolls as real infants, hiring nannies to care for them. Gregorini argued these shared elements, among others, were copied from her film, accusing Basgallop of incorporating them into Servant after allegedly struggling to develop a marketable script.
