Uwe Boll Believes Billy Zane Ripped Him Off

Posted by Eriq Gardner

In his career, Uwe Boll has been somewhat of a path-breaker producer and director, eschewing funding from Hollywood studios in favor of lining up independent investors and taking advantage of Germany's tax credits. Boll has produced several cult films adapted from video games, including "House of the Dead" and "BloodRayne."

But Boll may have run into a problem with one of his favored benefactors, actor Billy Zane.

According to this complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Zane introduced Boll to California-based Romar Entertainment, which signed an agreement to distribute "BloodRayne" in North America. Boll fronted Romar $10 million to promote and advertise the film. Romar allegedly kicked a $450,000 "finder's fee" back to Zane.

But according to the suit, Romar didn't open the film in at least 200 theaters as promised, failed to pay $250,000 in gross proceeds, and failed to use the advance payment as intended.

It's a little unclear why Romar is not named as a defendant in the suit. But Boll is going after Zane for breach of contract and intentional and negligent misrepresentation, seeking compensatory, general, consequential, and punitive damages.