ROMEO AND JULIET Stars File New Lawsuit Over Movie’s Nudity
By Movieguide® Contributor
ROMEO AND JULIET stars Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting have filed a new lawsuit over the enhanced nudity depicted in the 2023 digital release of the Shakespeare classic.
“After an extensive search by our manager, Tony Marinozzi, we found two passionate lawyers Bill Romaine and Zishan Lokhandwala, who after examining our situation, expressed a sincere and realistic optimist in filing new causes of action against Paramount and Criterion for their 2023 digitally vividly enhanced re-creation of our images from the original 1968 ROMEO AND JULIET film…which they had no consent to do,” Hussey and Whiting said in a statement.
“This case seeks damages for Paramount’s and Criterion’s use of the product which has further humiliated us with its digitally enhanced private photos, which serve as a constant and painful reminder of Zeffirielli’s betrayal,” they added.
The actors began seeking recompense last year for being forced to shoot scenes in the nude while underage. Throughout the movie’s productions, the director, Franco Zefferielli, told them they would be shooting in skin-colored body suits. However, this was changed to body makeup when the time for shooting the nude scene came. They were told the movie would fail if they did not shoot the scene in the nude.
“What they were told and what went on were two different things,” Marinozzi said in January 2023 when the actors filed their first lawsuit. “They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo.”
The case they brought last year was dismissed under the First Amendment, but they are now seeking payment, as well as a cease and desist, for the distribution of an enhanced digital version, which includes enhanced images of their shots in the nude.
“We want people to understand our suit relates only to the digital recreation,” said lawyer Bill Romaine. “The clients felt [after they saw it] that effectively turned what was a classic into a porn flick. That’s really the difference.”
“The emphasis on the youthful nudity is exploitative and our clients feel like there’s absolutely no excuse for that,” Romaine continued. “The story doesn’t need it, they’ve never consented to those nude pictures being in the film, even back in the 1968 film. Zeffirielli persuaded them to be photographed in the nude, there’s nothing in the contract about it, there’s nothing in the script.
“The facts, evidence, and law is on our side… and by the grace of God, we are confident that our voices will continue to be heard in our fight for accountability and firmly believe that Divine Justice will be done,” the actors added.
The case will commence in court this June.
Movieguide® reported on the previous lawsuit:
The stars of 1968’s ROMEO AND JULIET have sued Paramount Pictures for more than $500 million over a nude scene they shot when both were underage.
Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were 15 and 16, respectively, when they shot the now iconic Shakespeare adaptation.
The two actors filed a suit alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and fraud.
Director Franco Zeffirelli, who passed away in 2019, reportedly told the young actors that they would be wearing flesh-colored undergarments for a sex scene. However, when it came time to shoot, Zeffirelli told Hussey and Whiting they would be wearing body makeup.
The director told the pair the camera would be placed in such a way that no nudity would be shown, but Whiting’s bare buttocks and Hussey’s bare breasts can be seen.
