In 1992, after a series of meetings, Whoopi Goldberg made a verbal agreement with producer Richard Gilbert Abramson to star in this film for $5 million plus backend. As pre-production was starting, Goldberg called Abramson at home and he asked her if she was 100% committed to doing the film, which she said yes. However, shortly after, Goldberg stopped answering the producers' phone calls. The film's Italian investors pressured producers Abramson and Stefano Ferrari to sue her for $20 million (neither Abramson nor Ferrari actually wanted to sue her). Goldberg countersued saying she never agreed to do the film. Noteworthy is that, going back to the phone call from earlier, Abramson answered his phone as Goldberg was leaving a message. What they later realized was that when Abramson picked up, his answering machine was still recording, so he had Goldberg's confirmation on tape and it was used against her in court. Goldberg's people claimed that this was recorded illegally, but it was proven otherwise. After some time, the judge gave the impression to Goldberg that she was going to lose the case and that she should settle, which is what happened. In September 1993, Goldberg settled, and the producers had to pay her $7 million to do the film, $2 million more than the original agreement (they technically paid her $8 million if you add in legal fees).

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