There’s a bit of confusion these days surrounding a title. First ABC had a TV pilot called Friends with Benefits that was picked up by NBC. Now there is a film in the works at Paramount called Friends with Benefits directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) and starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher.
This project should not be confused with another film in the works by Screen Gems directed by Will Gluck (Fired Up!) and starring Justin Timberlake. The singing superstar is finalizing a deal that would see him star in this new film about friendship, sex and love. His character actually falls in love with a woman who starts to date someone else.
Deadline New York reports that Screen Gems was the first studio to register the title Friends with Benefits. This means the Paramount film will have to change its title. However, nothing can be done about the NBC television series.
In the meantime, Justin Timberlake stars in a film about Facebook called The Social Network hitting theatres on October 15. He also lends his voice to the film Yogi Bear coming to theatres on December 17.
The singer-actor is currently in Los Angeles filming the comedy Bad Teacher with his ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz.