New countersuit filed regarding upcoming Joey Ramone biopic
Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, has filed a countersuit against Johnny Ramone’s widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, regarding a planned Ramones biopic.
The film, set to star Pete Davidson as Joey, is based on Leigh’s 2009 book, I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir. In January, Cummings-Ramone filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan court, claiming the forthcoming movie is “unapproved and unauthorized”.
Cummings-Ramone, who is in charge of her late husband Johnny Ramone’s estate, claims the Netflix production will present a “one-sided recitation of the history of the Ramones.”
Furthermore, the filing stated the movie would be an “injustice to the band and its legacy” and criticised Leigh for his “conduct and treatment of Ms. Ramone and her late husband”.
In response, Leigh, real name Michael Hyman, filed a countersuit in March against Cummings-Ramone, obtained by People. The document argues Ramone’s widow previously gave her full permission and accused her of trying to defame Leigh’s character.
An attorney, working on behalf of Leigh, wrote in the filing: “Ms. Cummings-Ramone did consent to Defendants’ development and production of a motion picture. Ms. Cummings-Ramone’s main purpose is to embarrass, harass, and destroy the integrity of Mr. Hyman.”
It also claims Cummings-Ramone is trying to “create an utterly false narrative about him,” and alleges she is attempting to rewrite her role in the history of the Ramones.” Furthermore, it states she never was a member” of the Ramones and “had nothing to do with” their creative output.
Additionally, Leigh told People: “Johnny Ramone’s widow is trying to kill the film with a false claim. The movie that’s being made is solely based on my book I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir. This is not a Ramones story and was never intended to be as my business partner has falsely claimed. I filed a countersuit to defend my right to tell my story about my life with my brother.”
At this stage, the movie remains in the legal cross wires and won’t be arriving on Netflix anytime soon. While Davidson was first announced to star in the project in 2021, it’s still yet to begin filming and the latest filing will only postpone plans further, if an agreement is reached at all.
The former Saturday Night Live star previously said of the role: “I’m definitely taking it very seriously and I’m doing my research. Because Joey did a bit of everything and we’re following his life, so you’re going to see a bit of that. It’s a lot, man. It’s gonna be really interesting and I’m excited.”
This is a developing story.
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