Apple’s New Series Stumbles into a Legal Quagmire
Last week, a fresh horror show on Apple TV+—Servant, helmed by famed director M. Night Shyamalan—found itself on the wrong side of the courtroom when Italian‑American filmmaker Francesca Gregorini launched a copyright lawsuit. The suit alleges the show is an uncanny copy of her 2013 film, The Truth About Emanuel.
Kicking Off a “Soul‑Crushing” Fight
Gregorini’s lawyer brings the case to the concrete, serious arena of a Los Angeles federal court, saying the similarities are “so pervasive, so rooted in my client’s uniquely personal creative choices, that coincidence is preposterous.” The heart‑breaking premise is by no means new: both works tell the story of a grieving mother who’s replaced her dead child with a lifelike doll she believes is alive.
Who’s In the Ring?
The defendants aren’t just Shyamalan or Apple; they also named the writer‑creator of Servant, Tony Basgallop. Both companies declined to comment, while Shyamalan’s publicist has been silent on the matter so far.
Why It Matters
- Shared Plot Lines – A teenage nanny is hired to babysit the doll, mirroring the baby‑loss storyline.
- Identical Themes – The niche of “mothers grieving through a decorative substitute” is on full display.
- Visually Similar Settings – The atmospheric lighting and haunting interiors echo each other.
Apple TV+ in the Big Picture
Apple TV+ made its debut last November with a lineup that included four adult series, a twist on Oprah’s Book Club, a nature doc and three kids’ shows. Unlike competitors like Netflix or Disney+, Apple’s content is all new—no classic reruns from a back catalog to lean on.
So while the streaming giant keeps pouring fresh, original content into the market, one of its newest offerings is now stuck in a courtroom drama. Only time will tell which side wins this cinematic “copy‑cat” saga.
