Nicholas Loeb, known for his tumultuous relationship with Sofia Vergara, has leveled serious allegations against director Robert Schwentke, claiming he was duped into spending nearly $40,000 on a film that never materialized.
Loeb, an actor and entrepreneur, sought to collaborate with Schwentke on a project titled “Art of the Con,” which he described in legal documents as a heist film centered around the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in the early 20th century.
According to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Schwentke, who directed the 2017 film “The Captain,” agreed to take on the project in 2022 but insisted that screenwriter Matthew Wilder be involved. Loeb complied, paying Wilder $25,000 for a script rewrite based on Schwentke's assurances.
In January 2023, Loeb forked over an additional $12,500 for another rewrite after Schwentke requested it. Despite his reluctance to hire Wilder, Loeb stated he did so solely to secure Schwentke’s direction.
Loeb claims Schwentke expressed excitement about the project, stating that directing a “Lubitsch-style elegant heist-comedy” would be one of the highlights of his career. However, communication from the director ceased for several months.
In August 2023, Schwentke reemerged, demanding yet another rewrite from Wilder for an additional $25,000 fee. Ultimately, in March, Schwentke abandoned the project altogether, leaving Loeb with over $37,000 in expenses.
“Mr. Loeb believes he was swindled by Schwentke in collusion with his friend, costing him millions,” stated Andrew B. Smith, Loeb’s attorney.
Loeb is pursuing unspecified damages aimed at punishing both Schwentke and Wilder for what he describes as “willful, malicious, and fraudulent conduct.”
This legal battle follows Loeb's lengthy dispute with Vergara over their frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization after their attempts to have children were unsuccessful. Vergara ultimately prevailed in court, preventing Loeb from using a surrogate to carry their embryos.
As of now, neither Wilder nor Schwentke has responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
