The $17m lawsuit that saved Bruce Willis’ career: “The wreckage that was left is so shocking”
Under most circumstances, an actor being sued for tens of millions of dollars after being accused of unprofessional behaviour would have an adverse effect on their career. However, Bruce Willis cratering an entire production by wielding his ego worked out very well for him despite the threat of legal action.
Since Die Hard first propelled him onto the A-list in 1988, Willis had grown comfortable with his position as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. While he was never regarded as the greatest actor in the business from a purely performative standpoint, there was no denying that he was a draw.
Look Who’s Talking, the first two Die Hard sequels, Pulp Fiction, Death Becomes Her, and The Fifth Element were just some of the box office successes he lent his name to, and even the occasional misfire like Hudson Hawk, The Last Boy Scout, or Striking Distance was quickly offset with another hit.
However, Broadway Brawler threatened to do massive damage to not only Willis’ reputation, but his standing in the industry. The sports-centric romantic comedy was the first time he’d been credited as a producer on one of his films, and it appeared as though the increased influence went to his head.
It wasn’t long before tales of woe began emerging from behind the scenes, with several people involved with the production blaming Willis for the constant turnover, which saw the cinematographer, costume designer, co-producer, and even director Lee Grant fired before the whole thing was shut down.
Broadway Brawler was beyond salvation, so Disney decided to cut its losses and scrap the movie. More than half of the agreed $28 million budget had already been spent, and there were 20 days of shooting left, leaving Joe Feury, the terminated producer, to lament what happened to the project.
“The way it ended was a nightmare,” he said in a statement, per Variety. “After 20 days of shooting, we knew that we were making a wonderful film, but Bruce wasn’t happy. So, the production was closed down. The wreckage that was left after two years of our work is so shocking that as I write to you, the full impact of it still hasn’t hit.”
With the blame for Broadway Brawler collapsing being pointed largely at Willis, he found himself in a sticky situation. The star was on the hook for the $17.5 million the Mouse House had lost on its unfinished picture, staring a lawsuit straight in the face. Instead, Disney’s Joe Roth convinced him it would be in his best interests if he signed a three-picture deal with the studio at a vastly reduced rate to offset the losses.
Realising that going to court wasn’t the ideal outcome for anyone, Willis agreed. For his first film under the agreement, he was paid $3 million instead of his usual $20 million asking price. That happened to be Michael Bay’s Armageddon, which cleared half a billion dollars at the box office and became the highest-grossing release of 1998.
The second was M Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense, which netted Willis the single biggest payday of his entire career when his salary was reduced in favour of earning a percentage based on the supernatural chiller’s profits. Where he’d once been facing a legal battle, the first two movies of his Disney deal were the two top-earning titles in his filmography, from which he made a vast amount of money.
The Kid, the third and final instalment in his Disney deal, didn’t fare so well, but it didn’t matter. Not only did Willis emerge from Broadway Brawler smelling of roses, but he was richer than ever, and his star burned brighter after headlining two colossal hits in quick succession.
