When it comes to popular actresses from the '80s and '90s, there aren't many that stack up to Kim Basinger. The actress had a number of hit movies, made millions, lost millions, and had an infamous romance with Alec Baldwin during her biggest years on screen. Eventually, however, the star would largely leave Hollywood behind, but not without earning an impressive legacy.
Basinger was all set to star in a movie that some felt had potential, but after a bold decision, the actress herself being sued for millions of dollars by the movie studio. It's a strange tale, and we have the details below.
Kim Basinger Was A Popular Movie Star
During her biggest years in Hollywood, there weren't many people as popular and as recognizable as Kim Basinger. Not only did the actress have the looks to be a superstar, but she had the talent, as well. This potent combination helped Basinger become the queen of Hollywood for some time.
Landing the role of a Bond Girl in the 1980s did wonders for Basinger becoming a household name, but it was what she did with subsequent opportunities that helped her blossom into a star.
The actress was able to land roles in pictures like The Natural, 9 1/2 Weeks, and even Batman. Keep in mind that this was just in the 1980s, and plenty of other hits films would follow in the 1990s.
Over time, the actress would be featured in numerous films, and at this point, she has etched out an impressive legacy in the business.
Basinger was up for a variety of roles during her peak years in Hollywood, and at one point, she was up for a role in a movie that once had an NC-17 rating.
She Was Set To Star In 'Boxing Helena'
1993's Boxing Helena was a film that was supposed to star several different actresses at different points in the early production process. At one point, Kim Basinger was going to star in the movie, bringing a ton of drawing power to the table.
"A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion," the film's logline reads.
Ultimately, Boxing Helena was get a poor critical reception, and many people dumped all over the project. Though it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, this film failed to do anything meaningful in the mainstream, and it somehow managed to gross below $2 million at the box office.
Now, you might figure that a movie like this is one that no one would ever discuss again, but the only noteworthy thing regarding this movie is that the studio behind it launched a massive lawsuit against Kim Basinger, who didn't end up starring in the picture.
The Lawsuit In Question
So, why was Kim Basinger sued for a whopping $6.4 million? It all stems from backing out of doing the film, a decision that was actually a breach of contract.
According to UPI, "Actress Kim Basinger, sued for backing out of a movie deal, testified Monday she felt uncomfortable about nude scenes in the film 'Boxing Helena.' Basinger, taking the witness for the first time in a $6.4-million breach of contract suit filed by Main Line Pictures Inc., told the Los Angeles Superior Court jury that she turned down the script in 1991 over concerns that some of the scenes would include 'graphic' rather than 'artistic' sex."
The site does note that the studio had a verbal agreement with the movie star, but before filming actually got underway, she made the decision to leave the project behind.
Eventually, a decision was reached, and Basinger was found to be the guilty party. This started a cascade of events that took years, including the actress having to file for bankruptcy before lessening the money she owed the studio.
A 1997 piece by Amarillo detailed the financial fallout of the lawsuit, and how Basinger was able to settle for much less than she originally owed.
"The film's producers sued her for breach of oral contract, and she lost. The $8.1 million jury award forced the actress into bankruptcy, and she subsequently settled with the producers of "Boxing Helena'' for $3.8 million," Amarillo reported.
Kim Basinger lost millions after backing out of Boxing Helena, which wound up performing poorly at the box office. It's a shame to see how it all played out.
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