Abigail Breslin Accuses Aaron Eckhart of Aggressive Behavior During Filming of “Classified”
Abigail Breslin, the co-star of the upcoming thriller “Classified,” has filed a lawsuit against her fellow actor Aaron Eckhart, alleging his aggressive behavior towards her during filming. The lawsuit, obtained by Rolling Stone, states that Breslin refused to be alone with Eckhart due to his behavior on set.
Breslin initially detailed Eckhart’s behavior in a private letter to the Screen Actors Guild. However, her claims became public when the film’s production companies sued her for breach of contract, claiming her accusations cost them $80,000.
The lawsuit alleges that Breslin’s claims almost halted the entire production, as she insisted that Eckhart’s behavior was aggressive, demeaning, and unprofessional. As a result, she refused to be alone with him in several scenes, ultimately leading to costly accommodations having to be made.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Dream Team Studios and WM Holdings, claim in their filing that they are still uncertain if Breslin directly confronted Eckhart, but they were aware of the private letter in which she expressed her fears and criticized his behavior. An on-set producer allegedly investigated her claims at the time.
The producer, identified as “Mr. Georgiev,” concluded that there was “no evidence in support of Breslin’s wild, hysterical and imaginary allegations against Eckhart.” However, despite completing the film, it now faces hurdles in terms of its release.
In their lawsuit, the production companies state that Breslin is demanding $35,000 as a condition of signing her final agreement, which is required for the film’s release and to claim tax credits in Malta, where it was shot. As a result, they are seeking $80,000 in damages from Breslin.
Representatives for Breslin have not yet responded to requests for comment. However, a representative told Rolling Stone that Breslin is unaware of any action filed against her and stands by her statement to the Screen Actors Guild.
Eckhart, known for his roles in films such as “The Dark Knight” and “Thank You for Smoking,” has not publicly addressed the accusations yet. However, in a previous interview with E! in 2010 regarding on-set tension, he said, “It’s so surprising…when people are surprised that movie making is sometimes tense and uncomfortable.”
“Classified” follows Eckhart’s character, a CIA hitman who receives covert orders through a newspaper section. The plot takes a twist when his estranged daughter, played by Breslin, reveals that his boss has been dead for years, causing him to question his actions and targets.
No official release date for the film has been announced yet.