Slingshot, the producer of the upcoming animated musical film “David,” has initiated legal action against Angel Studios, alleging breach of contract and other "misdeeds" in what they describe as a hostile takeover of their project. The lawsuit, filed on March 5, 2025, in Utah’s Fourth Judicial District Court, accuses Angel Studios of violating a 2021 agreement concerning mutual approval provisions for marketing and distribution decisions.
According to the documents obtained by TheWrap, Slingshot claims that Angel Studios failed to uphold its end of the arrangement, particularly when it engaged third parties without Slingshot’s consent. Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that Angel Studios misused “David” to promote its own platform rather than focusing on the film's expansion and reach.
This situation is reminiscent of earlier tensions between Angel Studios and the producers of “The Chosen,” a popular series that ended its partnership with the distributor in May 2024 over multiple contract breaches, culminating in a $5 million restitution payment made to the creators. Similar to Slingshot’s experience, “The Chosen” producers felt sidelined by Angel's prioritization of its interests.
Slingshot's lawsuit details how Angel Studios allegedly prioritized its own needs, using “David” to advance subscriptions to Angel Guild rather than maximizing potential revenues for the film. This conflict intensified when Angel Studios placed episodes of a miniseries, “Young David,” behind a paywall. This action contradicted a pre-agreed "pay-it-forward" model, which aimed to enhance global accessibility, mirroring the approach taken with the highly successful “The Chosen.”
Furthermore, Slingshot contends that Angel distributed substandard marketing materials, altered brand guidelines without securing approval, and continued to exploit “David”-related content even after the contract was terminated in November 2024.
Other notable misdeeds alleged in the lawsuit include unauthorized merchandising agreements and the misuse of “David’s” intellectual property during investor presentations for Angel Studios’ proposed public listing. Slingshot highlights that Angel Studios failed to honor its promise of “complete mutuality” in decision-making processes, a fundamental aspect that led to their original partnership.
With the phrase “Enough is enough,” Slingshot underscored its dissatisfaction in the filing, asserting that the studio's actions have caused irreparable harm to its brand reputation and goodwill. In addition to seeking damages, the lawsuit requests restitution for the alleged intellectual property infringement along with a declaration affirming the termination of the agreement.
As of now, Angel Studios has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit. Nonetheless, this case illuminates growing tensions within the faith-based entertainment sector, especially as companies navigate the complexities of crowdfunding, streaming, and global distribution.
The animated feature “David,” set to debut in 2025, has generated significant interest, with comparisons being drawn to major Disney productions. The project represents a staggering investment of $42 million, buoyed by the support of more than 12,000 individual backers. This backing not only reflects the high expectations surrounding “David,” but also emphasizes the stakes involved in its distribution and marketing strategies.
This dispute between Slingshot and Angel Studios is more than just a legal battle; it highlights critical issues faced by filmmakers and distributors in the rapidly evolving landscape of faith-based media. As companies seek to leverage crowdfunding while maintaining artistic integrity and audience accessibility, the outcomes of such lawsuits may shape the future of the industry.
