Executive Producer Sues Over Lost Profits From Horror Film Obsession

Leonora Ann Darby, an executive producer on the 2025 horror film "Obsession," has filed a lawsuit alleging she was cut out of her promised share of the movie's massive profits after rescuing the project from a troubled edit. The complaint, filed on August 28, 2026, in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Tea Shop Productions and its co-founders, James Harris and Mark Lane, of breach of contract and reneging on a 2024 agreement that entitled her to one-third of the net profits for films she lead-produced.

The lawsuit states that Darby joined the fledgling company in 2019 and rose to become one of its three producers. In 2024, she renegotiated her compensation, securing an agreement for a 33.33% share of net profits on projects she led, along with participation in collection account management agreements. According to the filing, Darby fulfilled her obligations, working on several films including "A Banquet," "The Surfer," and "Tornado."

The dispute centers on "Obsession," a low-budget film written and directed by Curry Barker that became a global box office phenomenon, earning over $500 million worldwide on a reported budget of less than $800,000. Darby's lawsuit details her...