UPDATE

THE “SCUD STUD”

GOES TO WAR

WITH

 “CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR”

DUCK AND COVER:

INCOMING!

(May 8th, 2008 9:00AM PST)

BY ERS NEWS

 

Canadian journalist, turned politician -- turned journalist again, Arthur Kent has a new lawsuit pending against the filmmakers of the recent Hollywood film “Charlie Wilson’s War”.  The 2007 film, which did less than blockbuster box office (although a respectable 66 million was nothing to dismiss) grabbed mixed reviews.  The movie stars Tom Hanks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts.  The story follows the exploits of a U.S. Congressman from Texas who helped facilitate the CIA and the U.S. support for the Afghan “mujahedeen” fighters who ultimately drove the former Soviet Union’s Red Army from Afghanistan.  According to the film’s PR it’s “based on an unbelievable true story”.  Mr. Kent begs to differ.

As ERSNews first reported this past February, Kent, doesn’t think to highly of the film on many fronts.  He is now suing the filmmakers over what he claims was the unapproved illegal use of his reporting from Afghanistan in the film without his permission or credit.

The Enterprise Report has obtained the lawsuit filed just last week in Los Angeles Federal Court.  Take a read.  Although it’s not as compelling as front line battlefield reporting and even less entertaining than a Tom Hanks acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, it will be fun to watch and see how this one pans out.  We’ll keep you posted as this Hollywood saga unfolds!

 

 

FORMER "SCUD STUD" ARTHUR KENT THREATENS TO SUE PRODUCERS OF ACADEMY AWARD
NOMINATED FILM
"CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR"

TOM HANKS, MIKE NICHOLS AND ARRON SORKIN BEWARE?
THERE MAY BE SOME BLOWBACK COMING TO A COURTROOM NEAR YOU!

(February 12th, 2008 1:30PM PST)

BY ERS NEWS

ERSNews has learned that Arthur Kent, a former journalist and now Canadian politician is threatening to sue the makers of the Academy Award nominated film "Charlie Wilson's War" over his inclusion in the film.

Kent, made the legal threat in an article in the Canadian magazine "Policy Options". The article just published, lambastes the film and makes this specific threat: "...oh yes, look out for next summer's blockbuster, The Son of Charlie Wilson's War: Quest For the Rightful Credits. Coming to a law firm near you..."

Kent became well known in the 1980's for reporting as a freelance foreign correspondent covering the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan for various media outlets. Kent later joined NBC News. During the first Gulf War he became a media darling and earned him the nickname "The Scud Stud" for his live reporting of "scud" missile attacks on U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia. Kent was ultimately fired by NBC News, and sued the Peacock Network in a long bitter legal battle, which reportedly netted the former journalist a large financial settlement.

The studio involved with the making of "Charlie Wilson's War" is Universal, which is now part of the NBC/Universal corporate family.

So this could be a sequel that many in journalism and Hollywood might want to see, but will just have to wait and see how it all turns out!

The film stars Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts and was directed by Mike Nichols.

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