Lena Headey is reportedly being sued by her former agency for $1.5 million over unpaid commission fees relating to several projects, including her cut Thor: Love and Thunder role.
Variety reports that U.K. agency Troika, who previously represented Headey, has filed a lawsuit against the actor over outstanding commission fees connected to multiple projects. The agency is seeking $1.5 million in total, which includes $500,000 – around 7% of her fee – for her earnings on Thor 4, though she does not appear in the final cut of the Marvel movie.
According to court documents obtained by the outlet, Headey joined Troika in 2005 and remained on their books until 2020, the same year the agency rebranded as YMU. However, the company claims that Headey owes them a hefty commission under the terms of their agreement, while Headey alleges that she never actually signed a contract with Troika.
Headey also claims that Troika was not involved in the negotiations regarding her now-axed role on Thor: Love and Thunder, as director Taika Waititi personally reached out to her about the part. In addition to her MCU fees, the agency is said to be seeking at least $300,000 from her lead role on 9 Bullets, and $650,000 for her titular role on scrapped Showtime series Rita.
Headey has allegedly disputed all of Troika's claims for these commission fees in her legal filings, asserting that the agency has been correctly paid up for the projects they had a hand in while they represented her. It's also noted that Troika wasn't her sole agent and therefore didn't lead all negotiations because she was simultaneously signed with CAA in the U.S.
It's unclear why Headey's role was cut from Marvel's upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, but she wasn't the only actor to have scenes removed during post-production. Christian Bale recently told Prensa Escenario that he had filmed scenes with Peter Dinklage's dwarf king Eitri, and Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster, but both encounters ended up as deleted scenes.
In addition to these cut cameos, some scenes with the existing cast also ended up on the cutting room floor. Bale, who will be making his MCU debut as Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder, said that one scene was excluded because it was deemed a little "too extreme" for the movie, while plans for a Kate Bush dance scene also never came to fruition.
Thor: Love and Thunder will release on July 8 and sees Chris Hemsworth's character take on Gorr with the help of Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, who will wield the Mjolnir as Mighty Thor.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.