Obsession Film Executive Producer Alleges Exclusion from $500M Profit Windfall

Leonora Ann Darby, an executive producer behind the critically acclaimed 2025 horror film “Obsession,” has initiated legal proceedings against the movie's production entity and two of its producers. Her claim asserts she was unjustly excluded from a rightful portion of the earnings, despite her pivotal involvement in steering the project to completion. Filed on Monday, the suit targets Tea Shop Productions and its co-founders, James Harris and Mark Lane, contending they breached a 2024 accord by not acknowledging her contributions and failing to treat her as an equivalent partner. Darby contends that she was deprived of her due share of the colossal profits generated by “Obsession,” a film reportedly produced with a modest budget of $750,000, which subsequently amassed over $500 million globally.

The legal documents detail Darby's indispensable role during the post-production phase, particularly when director Curry Barker reportedly struggled to manage the editing. She alleges her intervention was instrumental in restoring Barker's oversight of the project, thereby averting what could have been a catastrophic final version of the film. Furthermore, Darby states she successfully advocated for and obtained authorization for various reshoots, which rectified existing issues and ensured the movie's timely completion for its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Following its triumphant reception at the festival, “Obsession” caught the attention of Focus Features, leading to its acquisition for $16.2 million. Darby's complaint further outlines that subsequent to the film's monumental box-office performance, Harris and Lane allegedly contravened their prior understanding by systematically denying her profits and withholding public credit for her efforts. She is now seeking financial restitution, including compensatory damages, outstanding project bonuses, a one-third share of the film's net profits, and other forms of damages. Efforts to reach Tea Shop Productions for their perspective on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.