Indie producers allege the Hollywood couple’s body-horror film “blatantly rips off” their romantic comedy ‘Better Half’
Dave Franco and Alison Brie are known for blending sharp wit with offbeat charm. But their latest joint project — a horror film titled Together — is making headlines for something far less celebratory: a copyright infringement lawsuit that claims the couple stole the concept from a little-known indie film.
Filed in California by StudioFest producers Jess Jacklin and Charles Beale, the suit accuses Franco and Brie of lifting major plot elements from their 2023 rom-com Better Half, alleging the two movies are “virtually identical.” The legal fight throws a spotlight on the fine line between inspiration and imitation — and who gets to tell certain kinds of stories in Hollywood.
From quirky love story to body-horror nightmare?
The lawsuit centers on a strange connection that runs deeper than the script.
In Better Half, a quirky couple navigates a literal fusion — emotionally and physically — as a metaphor for codependency. The low-budget film drew critical praise for its originality. In Together, Franco and Brie play a couple who become grotesquely fused during a supernatural event, as their relationship begins to unravel in a more sinister tone.
Sound familiar? That’s exactly the problem, according to the plaintiffs.
Back in 2020, StudioFest says they pitched Better Half directly to Franco and Brie’s agents at WME, hoping to cast them. The actors passed. Fast forward five years, and the married duo is now promoting a film with strikingly similar DNA.
That’s not just coincidence, Jacklin and Beale argue — that’s theft.
WME dismisses lawsuit as “frivolous”
A spokesperson for WME, the agency representing Franco and Brie, pushed back hard against the accusation.
“This lawsuit is frivolous and without merit,” they said in a statement shared with The Independent. “The facts in this case are clear and we plan to vigorously defend ourselves.”
The defense is expected to hinge on genre differences — Better Half is described as a “romantic comedy with surrealist elements,” while Together is straight-up psychological horror. But the plaintiffs aren’t buying that distinction.
At the heart of their argument is narrative overlap. Both films allegedly center around:
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A couple physically fusing due to emotional issues
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Themes of identity loss and merging personalities
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Claustrophobic settings and limited cast
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Story arcs involving internal relationship turmoil reflected externally
The lawsuit claims Together is just Better Half, reimagined with more blood.
Sundance premiere lit the match
When Together premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, it made waves for its grotesque visuals and emotional performances. But behind the applause, murmurs were already swirling in indie circles.
Jacklin and Beale say they were stunned to see their concept playing out in front of a packed Sundance crowd — with bigger stars and a much larger platform.
“The shape of the story, the relationship dynamic, even some of the dialogue — we felt like we were watching our own film, but twisted,” Beale reportedly told a close associate at the time.
Their suspicions solidified when they obtained a copy of the shooting script for Together, prompting the lawsuit.
Who really owns an idea?
Hollywood lawsuits over similar films aren’t new. But winning them? That’s a different story.
Copyright law protects expression — not ideas. A person can’t own “a story about two people merging into one body.” But if the execution, pacing, and scene structures are close enough, plaintiffs could have a shot. That’s a high bar, though.
A deeper rift in indie vs studio culture
This lawsuit is more than a fight over one film. It’s shining a light on a broader problem: how often smaller creators feel erased by the machine.
Indie producers and screenwriters frequently share early scripts and ideas in hopes of getting discovered. But when a similar, flashier version pops up years later — backed by stars, agents, and studio dollars — they’re often left wondering whether they were just used as inspiration boards.
“There has to be accountability,” said a friend of Jacklin, speaking off the record. “You can’t keep borrowing from people who don’t have the power to fight back.”
It’s not clear what damages StudioFest is seeking, though copyright lawsuits often include demands for profits, cease-and-desist orders, and public crediting. A trial could stretch into late 2026 if a settlement isn’t reached first.
