‘Not rude, just French’: the Eva Green court case explained

Film star Eva Green has blamed her “Frenchness” for expletive-laden messages in which she blasted “weak and stupid” film bosses and described a producer as an “inexperienced, pretentious moron”.

The Paris-born actor, who played Vesper Lynd in James Bond film Casino Royale, is “locked in a bitter lawsuit” with UK-based production company White Lantern Film over her $1m (£810,000) fee for a film that was “abandoned” in 2019, said The Telegraph. Giving evidence at London’s High Court yesterday, Green claimed she was entitled to the money under a “pay or play” agreement that guaranteed payment regardless of whether the project was completed.

White Lantern is bringing a counterclaim, accusing Green of making “excessive creative and financial demands” and undermining the production. Responding to those allegations, her barrister accused the company of trying to paint Green as a “diva” to damage her reputation.

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‘Nothing against peasants’

Green was due to star in a sci-fi thriller titled A Patriot, but “fell out with fellow producers over the budget, location and preparations”, said the BBC.

Representing White Lantern, Max Mallin KC claimed Green had an “animosity” towards the vision of the film held by one of the film’s executive producers, Jake Seal. The court heard that in a series of Whatsapp messages with her agent and the film’s director, Green claimed Seal was planning to make a “cheap B movie” and described him as “the devil” and “evil” .

She also referred to the crew members working on the film as “shitty peasants... from Hampshire”. Green told the court that she had concerns over “working with people who are not experienced”, adding that she had “nothing against peasants”.

“I didn't want to work with a sub-standard crew. I wanted to work with a high-quality crew who just wanted to be paid standard industry rates,” she said.

Referring to another message in which she described two of the film-makers as “weak and stupid”, she said: “It's my Frenchness coming out sometimes.”

“Sometimes you say things you don’t actually mean,” she added. “Of course they are not weak and stupid.”

Feared ‘B movie’ would ‘kill her career’

Green said she withdrew from the “chaotic” film after budget cuts forced filming to move to Ireland and led to “extremely dangerous” corner-cutting, such as a reduction in her stunt training. She also claimed the crew was paid “significantly” below standard industry rates.

The original budget for the project, which was written and set to be directed by Bournemouth-based film-maker Dan Pringle, was “initially projected at around $10m”, reported Variety. But as producers “desperately tried to secure financing amid a rapidly changing independent film landscape”, the budget was “slowly decreased without Green’s knowledge”.

The star told the court that she had feared appearing in a “B movie” would “kill my career”. And when she realised the full extent of the financial troubles facing the project, she “kind of panicked”.

“I live to make good films, it’s my religion,” said Green. She had given her “heart and soul” to the project that was originally presented to her, Green insisted, and being forced to jump ship had been like “abandoning my baby”.

According to The Independent, she had been due to star alongside Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance and Hollywood icon Helen Hunt, “with Oscar winner Kathy Bates attached to the movie at one point” too.

Green was due to finish giving evidence today as the eight-day trial continues.