Universal will not be facing a lawsuit alleging that the studio deceived viewers into watching the movie “Yesterday” by featuring Ana de Armas in the trailers, despite her not appearing in the actual film. This decision was made by U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson, who ruled that the plaintiffs cannot pursue the proposed class action because their decision to watch the film was not based on any alleged misrepresentations by the studio.
The lawsuit, filed by Michael Rosza and Conor Woulfe last year, claimed that they watched the trailer for “Yesterday” and believed that de Armas had a significant role in the romantic comedy. However, upon renting the film, they discovered that she did not appear in it. The complaint pointed to the fact that de Armas was listed as a cast member in search results, which they argued was misleading.
However, the court found that Woulfe, who rented the movie a second time under the belief that de Armas might appear in a director’s cut, did not have standing to bring the suit because his “injury is self-inflicted.” Judge Wilson concluded that Woulfe did not watch the film because of any statements from Universal about de Armas’ involvement, and there was no reason to believe that the version of the movie he accessed on Google Play would be different from the first version he watched.
In the original casting of “Yesterday,” de Armas was set to play a love interest for Himesh Patel, but her scenes were ultimately cut from the final version of the film. However, the trailer prominently featured scenes of de Armas and Patel on the set of James Corden’s talk show.
The plaintiffs argued that Universal used de Armas’ fame and popularity to promote the film, despite her limited involvement. They claimed that the studio included her scenes in the movie trailers to maximize ticket sales and rentals.
The lawsuit included claims of false advertisement, unjust enrichment, and violation of unfair competition. However, Judge Wilson’s ruling effectively dismisses these claims.
This case raises interesting questions about the role of trailers in shaping viewers’ expectations and the extent to which studios can be held accountable for misrepresentations in marketing materials. While the court found that the plaintiffs in this particular case did not have standing to sue, it remains important for studios to accurately represent their films in trailers and promotional materials to avoid misleading consumers.
In the end, Universal successfully defended itself against the lawsuit accusing the studio of tricking people into watching “Yesterday” based on the inclusion of Ana de Armas in the trailers. Judge Wilson’s ruling highlights the importance of carefully considering the basis for a lawsuit and ensuring that there is a sufficient connection between alleged misrepresentations by a studio and the decision-making process of the viewers themselves.
While this case may not have resulted in a successful class action lawsuit against Universal, it serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and accuracy in film marketing. Viewers should be able to trust that the information provided in trailers and promotional materials is a fair representation of the film they are choosing to watch.
