Producers Sue For Piece Of 'Wedding' Take

A movie production company wants to take part in the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" celebration, but it's hardly a happy occasion.

MPH Productions has filed a lawsuit against the principal players from the movie, alleging that it is owed some profits from the independent film blockbuster.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday, names Playtone, the film's production company headed by Tom Hanks and producer Gary Goetzman, as well as Nia Vardalos, who wrote and starred in the film.

Goetzman and Hanks are not actually named in the lawsuit, just the company.

According to the suit, MPH claims it originally bought the script from Vardalos for $60,000. In turn, MPH alleges, it turned around and sold the rights for the film to bigger producers in exchange for 3 percent of the profits -- but hasn't seen its cut yet.

MPH claims that "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" has reportedly grossed more than $600 million from worldwide box office receipts, home video sales and rentals and television broadcast rights.

But, a document attached to the suit claims to show an accounting statement from one of the defendants, Gold Circle Films. It says the movie has actually lost $20 million.

Both Vardalos and Playtone are disputing the claims. According to The Associated Press, Vardalos' attorney Jonathan Moonves said, "Nia had nothing to do with the distribution of profits and absolutely should not have been named a party in this dispute."

Moonves also said it is "outrageous" that Vardalos is named in the suit, and he is looking into ways she can respond to being "improperly named" in the suit.

Goetzman says that Playtone has nothing to do with the dispute over the profits, and that the film is not owned by them, but by Gold Circle and HBO.

The romantic comedy about a woman (Vardalos) trying to convince her traditional family that her non-Greek suitor (John Corbett) is the man she wants to marry, was shot for just under $5 million.

The movie earned Vardalos an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, as well as several other film honors.