writers often get dicked around by studios. look how Stephen King reacted to Shining and Lawnmower Man.
en.wikipedia.org
Stephen King lawsuit
The film, originally titled
Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man, differed so much from the source material that King sued the filmmakers in May 1992 to remove his name from the title.
[3] King stated in court documents that the film "bore no meaningful resemblance" to his story.
[12]
A federal judge ruled in King's favour in July 1992, the first successful such ruling since
James Oliver Curwood had his name removed from 1922's
I Am the Law.
[3] On appeal, it was ruled in October 1992 that the on-screen credit could remain but that King's name should be removed from advertising.
[3] King received $2.5 million in settlement.
[3]
Despite the ruling, New Line still did not comply and initially released the home video version as
Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man.
[13][14] In 1994, New Line was held in contempt of court.
[3]
Home media
The theatrical version of the film was initially released on
VHS and
Laserdisc on August 26, 1992. Alongside the 108-minute theatrical version, New Line Home Video also released an unrated
director's cut running 141 minutes on VHS and Laserdisc.
[15] The success of the unrated version alerted King to New Line's continued defiance of the order that his name be stricken from the film's credits and all marketing as the back covers stated "Based on a Story by Stephen King". A third court order was needed to force the studio's compliance. As before, the court upheld the two prior judgments, but it took the extra step of imposing a penalty of $10,000 directly payable to King for every day New Line remained in contempt by defying the order. Additionally, the studio would have to forfeit all profits earned on the film during that same period.