Slingshot, producer of the upcoming animated musical film “David,” sued Angel Studios for breach of contract and “other misdeeds,” accusing the faith-based distributor of a “hostile takeover” of its movie that violated several agreements for its own benefit.
The lawsuit, filed March 5 in Utah’s Fourth Judicial District Court and obtained by TheWrap, alleges Angel failed to honor a 2021 agreement for mutual approval provisions for marketing and distribution decisions for “David.” It also says the studio unilaterally engaged third parties without Slingshot’s consent and misused “David” to promote its own platform.
Similar complaints from “The Chosen” producers led to a separation from Angel last year. The worldwide hit and its record-shattering crowdfunding machine terminated its agreement with Angel in May, citing multiple breaches of contract, and the partnership was canceled after an arbitrator agreed with the show’s producers, whom Angel was forced to pay $5 million in restitution.
Slingshot’s lawsuit says it originally partnered with Angel Studios based on assurances that the distributor would collaborate closely on decisions related to marketing and monetization. But Angel prioritized its own interests, they say, sidelining Slingshot and using “David” to advance Angel Guild subscriptions rather than expanding the film’s reach.
The conflict escalated after Angel Studios placed episodes of companion miniseries “Young David” behind its paywall, disregarding a pre-agreed “pay-it-forward” model – like that of “The Chosen” – intended to increase global accessibility.
“Angel ignored its obligation to maximize potential revenues for “David” while refusing to consult Slingshot on key decisions,” the complaint reads. It also accuses Angel of distributing substandard marketing materials, altering brand guidelines without approval, and continuing to exploit “David”-related content after the contract was terminated in November 2024.
The lawsuit describes “other misdeeds” by Angel Studios, including unauthorized merchandising agreements and alleged misuse of “David’s” intellectual property in investor presentations for Angel Studios’ proposed public listing. It further alleges that Angel Studios failed to honor its promise of “complete mutuality” in decision-making, a provision Slingshot says was central to the partnership.
“Enough is enough,” Slingshot stated in its filing, citing irreparable harm to its brand reputation and goodwill. Besides damages, the lawsuit seeks restitution for intellectual property infringement and a declaration affirming the termination of the agreement.
Angel Studios did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.
Slingshot’s case underscores mounting tensions within the faith-based entertainment sector as companies navigate crowdfunding, streaming, and global distribution. The animated feature David, set to debut in 2025, has already drawn comparisons to major Disney productions and represents a $42 million investment supported by over 12,000 individual backers.
