The hip-hop mogul and business heavyweight 50 Cent is fighting back fiercely against the release of Skill House, a movie he alleges features his name, likeness, and even footage of his child, all without a signed contract. He’s asking a judge to halt the movie’s premiere on July 11, 2025.
Legal papers filed in Los Angeles show that Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his company, NYC Vibe, seek an immediate restraining order on the movie. He’s calling out gum-flapping producer Ryan Kavanaugh, Skill House Movie LLC, and GenTV LLC, alleging trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, and outright exploiting his likeness without consent.
The beef dates back to 2022 when 50 claims he began discussions with Kavanaugh and his crew about acting in and producing Skill House. They began working on a term sheet, but 50 said that was as close as they ever got, with no signatures, final deal, or contract.
“In or around 2022, I, Ryan Kavanaugh, and the firm Skill House Movie LLC began discussing matters,” 50 said in court papers. “G-Unit or I never signed the term sheet,” he added. “Skill House Movie did not sign the term sheet either.”
Even still, while we don’t see a membership dotted line, 50 Cent and his lil man, Sire, did shoot scenes for the movie. The rapper says he participated after what he thought were legitimate assurances that paperwork was in order.
He says the movie is being promoted under his name and partially made to appear as a “50 Cent production” without his permission. They were both refusing to work on the film or being willing to work on it now without pay from Warner Bros and New Line, no payment, no movie. Not only were they stripped of creative control in that the film has at least been taken out of their hands for now, but neither Fukunaga nor his son has been paid to sit around for a year and a half working on this movie.
“Kavanaugh has stated that I am a producer of the Skill House film; however, I was not granted creative control of the film, nor was I allowed to provide creative input,” 50 Cent said. “Furthermore, to this day, my son & I have not been paid for participation.
The lawsuit is more than payment; it is about who owns what, the reputation, and control of one of hip-hop’s most visible brands. His legal team contends that the unauthorized pilfering of his trademarks and public image could cause long-term damage that cannot be wiped away with a check.
The next court showdown is scheduled for July 3, shortly before Skill House debuts on screens. If 50 gets his way, the only thing premiering that week will be a win in court, not a movie he never really signed up for.
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