Playwright sues makers of Barbershop Movie

JD Lawrence claims the plot about an African-American barbershop and beauty salon bears an overwhelming resemblance to his play.

A playwright is attempting to block the release of Ice Cube’s fourth Barbershop film because he claims it rips off his stage play Scissors.

Ronald Dickerson, a writer, actor and film director also known as JD Lawrence, has filed a lawsuit against a number of networks and studios claiming $20m (£14m) in damages.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, seeks an injunction blocking the release of the film, claiming the plot, themes, characters and situation bear an overwhelming resemblance to those of Scissors, a stage play that toured in cities around the country from 1998 to 2001.

Barbershop: The Next Cut, which stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve and Nicki Minaj, is the latest of a series of films about the owners of a Chicago barbershop and an Atlanta beauty salon, their employees and neighbourhood problems such as gangs and gentrification.

Lawrence’s play is about the proprietors of a barbershop and hair salon in a predominantly African-American neighbourhood, and events in the community around the business.

Time Warner Inc, Warner Brothers Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc and Showtime Networks Inc are all named in the lawsuit but have not commented on the action.SkyNews

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