Judge Dismisses Second Lawsuit by Romeo and Juliet Stars

A California judge has dismissed a second lawsuit filed by Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, the stars of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' regarding a nude scene filmed when they were minors. The actors alleged that director Franco Zeffirelli tricked them into appearing nude and that a 2023 Criterion Collection re-release of the film constituted a new violation of their likeness rights. Judge Holly J. Fujie ruled that the re-release did not significantly alter the original scene and found that the actors had consented to their participation, despite claims of 'child pornography' by Hussey. The court noted that both actors had previously attended screenings without objecting to the scene, indicating implied consent over the years. This lawsuit follows a previous dismissal in May 2023, which also ruled against the actors on similar grounds. In essence, the judge concluded that the plaintiffs had not provided sufficient grounds for their claims against Paramount Pictures.