The Netflix-produced Ramones biopic starring Pete Davidson faces uncertainty due to an escalating legal dispute over the band's estate.

Photo Credit: The Ramones in 1976 (Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone) by Plismo / CC by 3.0

A recent arbitration ruling has removed David Frey as director of Ramones Productions Inc. (RPI) and banned him from re-election for five years. This decision came after Johnny Ramone's widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, filed a lawsuit against Frey and Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh.

The film, based on Leigh's memoir "I Slept With Joey Ramone," was announced in 2021 as a collaboration between Netflix and STXfilms, with Jason Orley directing alongside Davidson. However, Cummings-Ramone alleged that Frey and Leigh developed the biopic without proper authorization.

The legal dispute intensified when Frey and Leigh filed a countersuit in March, arguing that the project was intended as a family memoir rather than a band biography. They accused Cummings-Ramone of attempting to control the band's legacy.

The New York arbitrator found that Frey had breached his duties by failing to present the Netflix deal to Cummings-Ramone and the RPI board for approval. Cummings-Ramone expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating it would allow proper management of the band's legacy moving forward.

"Preserving this legacy is not just a responsibility but a deeply personal mission for me," Cummings-Ramone stated, emphasizing her commitment to protecting the band's cultural impact and musical contributions.

The case follows previous legal issues involving Frey, who faced similar disputes during his management of Cheap Trick, culminating in a 2013 lawsuit over unpaid touring fees.

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