Michael Shanks, writer and director of the upcoming body horror film Together, has issued a heartfelt response to a recent copyright infringement lawsuit accusing the film of being a “blatant rip-off” of the 2023 indie Better Half by Patrick Henry Phelan.
Shanks described the allegations as “devastating” and emphasized that Together is deeply personal, rooted in his own life and experiences. He detailed how the story, about a couple fused together after a bitter argument, reflects themes of codependency inspired by his 16-year relationship and personal trauma, including the loss of his father.
Shanks clarified the timeline of his work, noting that the first draft was completed and registered with the Writers Guild of America in 2019—well before the plaintiff’s script was submitted to WME. He also recounted how actor-producers Alison Brie and Dave Franco joined the project after years of development.
In a joint statement, Neon (the film’s distributor) and WME strongly denied the allegations, accusing the plaintiff of seeking publicity ahead of the film’s release without conducting due diligence. They stressed that Together’s script predates the plaintiff’s work and vowed to defend the film in court.
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Together premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance and was acquired by Neon for $17 million. It is slated for release on July 30.
