UPDATE: A camera operator who worked on every episode of Criminal is calling the lawsuit “100% garbage.”
A former production assistant on Amazon MGM’s upcoming Criminal series is suing the studio and production company Big Indie Pictures, claiming they looked the other way while showrunner Ed Brubaker created a hostile work environment on set.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in California state court.
The production assistant, Ijaaz Noohu, says Brubaker pointed a working firearm at his face and pulled the trigger. The lawsuit doesn’t offer any further detail about the gun incident, per THR.
Noohu is suing for sexual and racial harassment, religious discrimination, assault, and battery, among other claims. In plain English, assault and battery in a civil lawsuit cover threatening someone with harm and unwanted physical contact.
He is asking for money damages, but the lawsuit doesn’t put a number on it.
What The Lawsuit Claims Happened On The Criminal Set
Noohu, a Sri Lankan American filmmaker, was hired in February 2023 by Big Indie Pictures, the company behind A Complete Unknown, Fallout, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Soon after, the lawsuit says, Brubaker subjected him to “repeated and pervasive” sexual harassment. That allegedly included comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair, jokes about rape, and rubbing Noohu’s back.
The suit also says Brubaker aimed racial stereotypes at him — comments about curry, “Tiger Mom” remarks, references to the Netflix show Never Have I Ever, and comments assuming he was good at math.
Noohu says he was also repeatedly asked whether he supports Hamas.
The lawsuit claims it all culminated with the gun incident, which it says was witnessed by a senior producer who ignored it.
“That a supervisor with authority over the entire production would commit such an act — and that it would go unchecked — illustrates the culture of impunity that pervaded the criminal production,” Noohu’s lawyer, Fahim Rahman, writes in the complaint.
When Noohu asked for a promotion, the suit says, his exit date got moved up, and he was later barred from the set. He claims that was retaliation for challenging the misconduct.
His job ended in September 2024, and he wasn’t credited on the show.
The lawsuit also faults Amazon MGM and Big Indie for failing to investigate harassment it says happened in plain view. It points to executive producer Phillip Barnett, who allegedly directed others not to document complaints and made statements like, “Don’t say that in front of me,” and, “La la, I’m not hearing that.”
Amazon MGM declined to comment to THR. Big Indie and Brubaker didn’t respond to the outlet’s requests for comment.
Brubaker’s First Series As Showrunner
Amazon MGM gave Criminal a formal series order in 2024. The show is based on the long-running crime comic Brubaker created with artist Sean Phillips, and it marks his first time running a TV series.
Brubaker is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics. He created the Winter Soldier during his Captain America run at Marvel and also wrote Batman, Catwoman, and Daredevil.
His TV credits include Westworld, Too Old to Die Young, and Batman: Caped Crusader.
