Hayden Christensen takes pay-or-play deal to court

By Eriq Gardner

Hayden Christensen and his brother Tove have filed a lawsuit against a producer who claimed to have secured $250 million for the production and distribution of independent films.

According to the complaint, filed last week in California Superior Court, Christensen met with Philippe Martinez in May 2005 at the Festival de Cannes. Based on Martinez's representations, Christensen entered into an agreement with the producer to give him "first look" rights to film projects from Forrest Park Pictures, the company operated by Christensen.

At the time, Christensen was a hot property in Hollywood, coming off his role playing Anakin Skywalker in the "Star Wars" prequels.

In October 2005, Hayden signed a pay-or-play deal with Bauer Martinez Entertainment, whereby the actor agreed to act in a film called "Crash Bandits" for $3 million. Tove agreed to act as a co-producer on the film.

Both claim they are owed more than $2.6 million of outstanding balance under the agreements. The parties allegedly reached a settlement in 2006 for a reduced payment of $638,888, but the complaint contends that money was not paid either and that Martinez has signed other actors, writers, and directors to unfulfilled "pay-or-play" contracts.