John Singleton sues Paramount for $20m

Los Angeles - Director and producer John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious) is suing Paramount Pictures and MTV Films for at least $20m, claiming fraud and breach of contract.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles, Singleton claims the studios failed to uphold an agreement connected with the distribution rights to 2005's Hustle & Flow. The lawsuit claims the studios promised to finance and distribute two future Singleton productions within five years but added restrictions when he submitted the projects.

Paramount said in a statement on Wednesday that it "was hoping that John Singleton would produce two more pictures before his agreement with our studio ended in 2010, but that did not happen. Instead, he went on to direct Abduction for Lions Gate."

Singleton is demanding a jury trial. Paramount says the suit has no merit.