Showtime’s Yellowjackets was officially slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit yesterday morning, due to allegations that many elements of the hit horror series hold a strong resemblance to the 2015 film Eden. Premiering in 2021 to critical acclaim, Yellowjackets is about to roll out its third season, with tentative plans for at least two more installments to wrap up the thrilling survival story of a stranded girls’ soccer team — though the threat of impending legal trouble may very well derail the show’s previously bright future.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit was filed in New York federal court against both Showtime and Lionsgate by Eden Film Production, who claimed copyright infringement as a result of numerous, highly specific similarities between Yellowjackets and the suspenseful survival epic Eden.
How Simliar Are ‘Eden’ And ‘Yellowjackets’?
Both properties follow the harrowing tale of soccer players stranded in the wilderness due to a plane crash, who resort to desperate measures — such as cannibalism — in order to stay alive. While Eden was released in 2015 and earned largely negative reviews, the first season of Yellowjackets wasn’t released until 2021, and received impressive accolades, such as Emmy nominations and record streaming numbers. The lawsuit identified several common themes between the two stories, stating:
“In both works, the survivors, which include various players and the coach, among others, must fight for their lives against the harsh elements, starvation through dwindling resources, and the psychological toll of isolation in the form of growing darkness within themselves. As they struggle to survive, tensions rise, alliances form, dark secrets emerge, and moral boundaries are pushed to their limits — blurring the line between good and evil.”
Eden Film Production is reportedly seeking compensation for damages, as well as an official mandate to halt the production of Yellowjackets indefinitely.
However, despite the similarities between Eden and Yellowjackets, there are also several vital differences — as well as a real-life inspiration behind both stories. Where Eden depicts members of a men’s national soccer team returning home from a World Cup match, Yellowjackets follows a girl’s high school soccer team instead. And while both stories include elements of survival, including cannibalism, Yellowjackets stumbles into the realm of the supernatural and the mysterious, with numerous ongoing questions plaguing the show’s fans.
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What a Lawsuit Could Mean for the Future of Yellowjackets
Additionally, the idea of plane crash survivors committing acts of cannibalism in order to survive is far from an original idea. Most famously, a plane carrying members of a Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes Mountains in 1972, and survivors were forced to consume those who had perished due to their injuries or the elements. This chilling tale has been adapted into more than a few films over the years, and it’s reasonable to assume that both Eden and Yellowjackets could have used the story as inspiration.
Showtime and Lionsgate have not yet responded to the lawsuit, but it’s unlikely that the third season of Yellowjackets will be delayed, given that the show’s creators have already hinted at a release date early in 2025. As for subsequent seasons, a potential legal battle could cause some delays with filming and production, but the lawsuit itself seems unlikely to have any serious effect on the future of Yellowjackets. Although the series does bear some initial resemblance to Eden, the direction Yellowjackets takes in later episodes ends up differentiating it starkly from the 2015 film.
