Los Angeles, CA – A former supporting actor who appeared in the 1986 action drama “Top Gun” alongside Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer is taking legal action against Paramount. Barry Tubb, known for his role as Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe in the original film, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the studio for the unauthorized use of his likeness in the 2022 sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.”
In his complaint, Tubb claims that there was no provision in his contract allowing Paramount to use his image in any potential sequels, which was done in a scene in “Maverick.” The scene in question features a photo from the 1986 film era showing Tubb’s character alongside other iconic characters like Maverick and Iceman.
Tubb is pushing for a jury trial to address the alleged infringement on his likeness in the sequel. The lawsuit highlights that the image used in “Maverick” is essential and not incidental to the storyline, and Tubb believes that the alteration of the behind-the-scenes shot has damaged any copyright claim to his image.
According to the complaint, Paramount did not seek consent to feature Tubb’s likeness in “Top Gun: Maverick,” and the contract he signed did not anticipate the use of his image beyond the original film. The lawsuit emphasizes that the release of “Maverick” nearly four decades after the original “Top Gun” was not part of the initial contract.
Tubb’s legal action accuses Paramount of misleading and falsely associating him with the sequel, without his authorization. The exact amount of compensation being sought by Tubb remains unspecified at this time. Paramount has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case brings attention to the complexities of image rights and contracts within the entertainment industry, shedding light on the importance of clear agreements and permissions when using an actor’s likeness in film sequels.