Terrence Howard files lawsuit against 20th Century Fox claiming they used his likeness for Empire

Terrence Howard files lawsuit against 20th Century Fox claiming they used his likeness from Hustle and Flow for the logo of his hit series Empire

Terrence Howard has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, 20th Century Fox, claiming they used his likeness from his 2005 film Hustle and Flow for Empire.

The 51-year-old actor claimed the studio used his likeness from a scene from Hustle and Flow, for the Empire logo, according to TMZ

The lawsuit alleges that Howard asked the studio how they came up with the logo using his likeness, since he never sat down for a photoshoot, and was given the ‘runaround.’

Logo lawsuit: Terrence Howard has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, 20th Century Fox, claiming they used his likeness from his 2005 film Hustle and Flow for Empire

After not getting a straight answer from the studio, Howard then somehow determined that the likeness used in the logo came from Hustle & Flow.

The logo image seemingly came from a scene where Howard’s character DJay is recording his song Hard Out Here For a Pimp in a recording studio.

‘The still frame was selected, reversed (face looking left, not right), and subjected to CGI that simply distilled the cinematographer’s skilled capture of the head with vibrant light and shadow,’ the lawsuit alleges.

Logo source: The logo image seemingly came from a scene where Howard's character DJay is recording his song Hard Out Here For a Pimp in a recording studio

Logo source: The logo image seemingly came from a scene where Howard’s character DJay is recording his song Hard Out Here For a Pimp in a recording studio

Hustle & Flow was a hit out of the Sundance Film Festival in 2005, and acquired by Paramount Pictures and released in July 2005.

Howard alleges that if Fox had gotten a proper license for the image from Paramount, that he would have been paid.

The actor is suing for unspecified damages and he also wants a full accounting of Empire merchandise that was sold with that logo on it.

Sundance hit: Hustle & Flow was a hit out of the Sundance Film Festival in 2005, and acquired by Paramount Pictures and released in July 2005

Sundance hit: Hustle & Flow was a hit out of the Sundance Film Festival in 2005, and acquired by Paramount Pictures and released in July 2005

20th Century Fox hasn’t commented on the lawsuit at this time, and Howard hasn’t commented publicly about it either yet. 

Howard starred as Lucious Lyon for all six seasons on Fox’s Empire, which wrapped up its final season in April. 

The actor had previously claimed that he was going to ‘retire’ from acting once Empire went off the air, but that changed this summer.

Not retired: The actor had previously claimed that he was going to 'retire' from acting once Empire went off the air, but that changed this summer

Not retired: The actor had previously claimed that he was going to ‘retire’ from acting once Empire went off the air, but that changed this summer

Howard was set to star in and direct a one-hour TV drama entitled Delta Blues, starring alongside Evan Ross, according to a Deadline report from July. 

The series will follow the live of W.C. Handy, who became known as the Father of Blues, though neither Howard nor Ross will play Handy.  

Howard said the script was ‘better than bacon,’ adding, ‘I was done. But I am putting retirement on hold to tell this story.’

Star/director: Howard was set to star in and direct a one-hour TV drama entitled Delta Blues, starring alongside Evan Ross, according to a Deadline report from July

Star/director: Howard was set to star in and direct a one-hour TV drama entitled Delta Blues, starring alongside Evan Ross, according to a Deadline report from July

Un-retired: Howard said the script was 'better than bacon,' adding, 'I was done. But I am putting retirement on hold to tell this story'

Un-retired: Howard said the script was ‘better than bacon,’ adding, ‘I was done. But I am putting retirement on hold to tell this story’