The poster for The Secret Life of Bees is now online. The movie stars Paul Bettany, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys and Sophee Okonedo.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.

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Everywhere you look, people are suin’ mad!

Queen Latifah has sued Perfect Christmas Productions, the production company behind The Perfect Holiday (2007, starring Terrance Howard and Gabrielle Union) for breach of contract. The Queen says that she has not been paid for her cameo in the movie. She’s seeking $275,000. Even though the movie was basically a dud, only making $5.8 million domestically and scoring a 2.3 on IMDb (#91 in the bottom 100 rated movies…ouch!), the production company had been able to raise millions from third party investors to make the film. Latifah did her job, and girl just wants to get paid! Chances are this will be settled relatively quickly.  They wouldn’t want to ruin their image before the DVD release!

Also throwing his hand into the suing pot is the son of Godfather creator, Anthony Puzo.  What’s got his gun in a twist?  Apparently, Paramount Pictures failed to pay him royalties for the 2006 video game they released based on his father’s work! Mario Puzo died in 1999, and Anthony is in charge of his estate, which includes an agreement with Paramount to receive a “significant share” of the revenues from any audio or visual products that included elements of “The Godfather” films…which OBVIOUSLY includes video games! Puzo is seeking $1 million for this breach of contract issue.  I don’t blame him! Why do big studios think they can just use people’s work and not pay them?  First New Line versus Peter Jackson and the Tolkien estate, now this! Note to studios: Stop pissing off the people behind your money makers!

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