Bonnie Aarons, who performs the demonic nun in The Conjuring movie franchise, is suing Warner Bros. over claims the studio is hiding her “rightful share” to merchandise income earnings.
The actor, who performs Valak in 2016’s The Conjuring 2 and its subsequent spin-off The Nun, filed a grievance in opposition to Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and Scope Productions on Tuesday (August 15) in Los Angeles superior court docket.
Within the lawsuit (by way of The Hollywood Reporter), Aarons alleges she was paid $71,500 for her function in The Nun, together with a $175,000 bonus tied to the movie’s field workplace efficiency and her share of earnings from merchandise that includes her character. The Nun grossed over $365million in opposition to a finances of $22million.
In line with the settlement cited within the grievance, Aarons was promised a “pro-rata share of 5 per cent of fifty per cent of the gross receipts” from the licensing of merchandising rights.
The related merchandise, as detailed within the lawsuit, consists of “toy dolls, decorations, pins, jewelry, t-shirts, socks, bedding, costumes, drinkware, and posters all utilizing Ms Aarons’ likeness”.
Aarons says Warner Bros. despatched her written statements exhibiting her share of income which she alleges had been “inconsistent with the intensive merchandising actions” for her character. When she requested to elaborate on the figures, the studio despatched a “spreadsheet that contained line gadgets equivalent to solely a fraction of the identified licenses”.
The grievance states: “As a substitute of accounting and paying in a clear style, Warner Bros. obscures and hides the true quantity of Ms Aarons’ rightful share of merchandising revenues, all whereas persevering with to use her.”
The actor is suing for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of excellent religion and honest dealing.
Warner Bros. declined to remark when contacted by NME.
The Conjuring franchise has grossed over $2billion on the field workplace. It’s made up of eight movies in complete to date: three mainline Conjuring movies, three Anabelle spin-offs, The Nun, and 2019’s The Curse Of La Llorona. A sequel to The Nun is scheduled to be launched on September 8, 2023.
