A legal dispute involving the family of late Hollywood actor Chadwick Boseman has widened, with his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, accusing some of his relatives of making it difficult for her to proceed with a documentary about the actor’s life and legacy.
According to court documents cited in the report, Simone is working with production company Words + Pictures on the documentary and is seeking an agreement with Searchlight Pictures to produce the project.
Simone said the proposed deal is structured on a “Most Favored Nation” basis, which she maintains would give both sides of Boseman’s family equal treatment. She claimed identical paperwork was provided to the respective parties but alleged that some members of Boseman’s family requested separate agreements from the production company.
The actor’s widow also stated that she has consistently tried to involve his family in projects connected to his legacy.
Simone reportedly maintains that she retains 100 per cent control and benefit from Boseman’s name, image, voice, signature and likeness. She further claimed that she has made efforts to consult members of his family regarding activities undertaken to honour the late actor.
However, she alleged that some of his relatives have not extended the same consideration to her
The documentary disagreement comes against the backdrop of a separate legal dispute over the administration of Boseman’s estate.
The late Black Panther star’s brothers have sought Simone’s removal as administrator of the estate, alleging that she has not provided sufficient transparency regarding its finances.
Simone has denied the allegations.
She has maintained that she has gone beyond what was required in her dealings with Boseman’s family and has also claimed that she gave some members of the family more money than she was legally obligated to provide.
The competing claims are part of an ongoing legal dispute. The report does not indicate that a court has made a final determination resolving the allegations between the parties.
Boseman, who became an international star through his portrayal of King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther, died in August 2020 at the age of 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.
The proposed documentary is expected to focus on his life, career and legacy, but the dispute involving his widow and members of his family has now become part of the legal and production challenges surrounding the project.
