Showtime’s ‘Yellowjackets’ Hit With Bombshell Copyright Lawsuit Over Alleged Copycat Claims

Drama isn’t just limited to the wild world of Yellowjackets—it’s spilling over into real life too! Showtime’s Emmy-nominated survival thriller has been slapped with a hefty copyright infringement lawsuit.

According to Deadline, filmmaker Syam Madiraju, the mind behind the 2015 film Eden, has accused Showtime, Lionsgate, and series creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson of stealing “most substantive elements” from his work.

Filed in New York federal court, the suit claims Yellowjackets ripped off Eden’s story about a soccer team’s battle for survival after their plane crashes. But here’s the kicker—it’s not just about the plot. The lawsuit alleges that the show borrowed heavily from Eden’s themes, character development, dialogue, and even specific scenes. In Eden, the U.S. men’s national soccer team must fight to survive on an uninhabited island after a crash, dealing with dwindling resources, rising tensions, dark secrets, and even cannibalism. Sound familiar? That’s exactly what Madiraju’s team is arguing.

“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,” the lawsuit reads. “These substantially, strikingly similar elements leave little doubt that most substantive elements of Yellowjackets are copied from Eden.”

While Yellowjackets creators Lyle and Nickerson have previously noted that the show was inspired by the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571—famously depicted in the 1993 film Alive—it seems that argument may now be tested in court.

Season 3 of Yellowjackets is already generating buzz, especially after the shocking Season 2 finale. Lyle hinted, “There are at least two very big questions with very clear answers,” keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they wait for more gut-wrenching twists and turns.

As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how these accusations will impact Yellowjackets’ future. Will this lawsuit cast a shadow over one of Showtime’s biggest hits, or will the show continue to soar despite the turbulence?