NZer lays claim to Hollywood movie script

A second New Zealand author is staking his claim to the idea behind another blockbuster.

Christchurch-based author Gavin Bishop has said the makers of the film Mr and Mrs Smith have stolen his story idea, The Christchurch Press reported.

The children's author said the film's plot was very similar to a book he wrote for schools in 1997 titled The Secret Lives of Mr and Mrs Smith.

He said he planned to sue the makers of the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie movie.

However, while in Mr Bishop's book the husband and wife are spies, in the celluloid version they are assassins.

He told the Press the similarities were "too close to be accidental".

Another New Zealand author, Michael Baigent, is arguing the Dan Brown book The Da Vinci Code lifts the "whole architecture" of his work The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.

Mr Baigent has taken the book's publisher -- Random House -- to court in Britain.

Thousands of copies of Mr Bishop's 24-page book were distributed to schools throughout the United States.

Mr Bishop said he first became aware of the similarities with his book when he saw adverts for the film while in Los Angeles.

- NZPA