Sharon Stone sues over scrapping of 'Basic Instinct II'

The actress Sharon Stone is suing the producers of Basic Instinct for $14m (£10m) after they dropped plans for a sequel.

Stone claims she had agreed to reprise her role for the new film and had declined subsequent offers on that basis. She filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court this week, alleging that the producers Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna had a verbal agreement with her to pay at least $14m for her commitment to a sequel, even if it was never made. The producers deny having a contract of any kind with the actress.

In addition to the flat fee, Stone claims she was supposed to receive about 15 per cent of gross receipts. Her performance helped the first film garner $400m (£290m).The lawsuit claims that production of the sequel was to start in 2000 but was later delayed until February this year and had now been cancelled altogether.

Bert Fields, her lawyer, told Variety magazine: "It's interesting that they deny they ever had any contract with Sharon. After all, what's the first thing you do when you're making a sequel to Basic Instinct? You make a deal with Sharon Stone."

Alex Yemenidjian, MGM's chairman, confirmed the project had been shelved. One theory was there had been problems finding a leading man. Michael Douglas, the star of the first film, declined to reappear.