RIVERSIDE, CA – Acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan appeared in federal court on January 14, defending against allegations that his Apple TV+ series Servant plagiarized elements from Francesca Gregorini’s 2013 independent film, The Truth About Emanuel.

The director and Apple TV+ were sued in 2020 by Francesca Gregorini, an Italian-born director who says the series infringes on elements from her 2013 movie The Truth About Emanuel

Shyamalan is facing a trial over allegations that he copied from an independent film to make the streaming show, Servant. The show streams on Apple TV+. Francesca Gregorini, an Italy born director, is suing Shyamalan and Apple for $81 million,

Apple TV+ show "Servant" allegedly stole key elements from a 2013 film called "The Truth About Emmanuel," and the trial is back on with a jury set to decide if Apple and M. Night Shyamalan should be fined $81 million.