Noah Wyle Responds to “ER” Lawsuit Over “The Pitt” – And He’s Not Holding Back
Just months into its debut, “The Pitt” has emerged as one of 2025’s standout new shows—but not without stirring some controversy. The medical series, which stars and is executive produced by “ER” alum Noah Wyle, is facing serious legal pushback from the estate of “ER” creator Michael Crichton.
“The Pitt” vs “ER” Lawsuit
Ahead of “The Pitt’s” January premiere on Max, Sherri Crichton—Michael Crichton’s widow—filed a lawsuit against Wyle, series creator R. Scott Gemmill, executive producer John Wells, and Warner Bros. Television. The suit claims breach of contract and accuses the team of intentionally interfering with existing contractual relationships. At the heart of the case: the belief that “The Pitt” is simply “ER” in a new package.
Noah Wyle on “The Pitt” Lawsuit
Wyle, 53, spoke candidly about the situation with Variety, revealing how deeply the lawsuit has affected him. “This taints the legacy, and it shouldn’t have,” he said. “At one point, this could have been a partnership. And when it wasn’t a partnership, it didn’t need to turn acrimonious. But on the 30th anniversary of ER, I’ve never felt less celebratory of that achievement than I do this year.”
The suit doesn’t mince words. It argues that “The Pitt” is not inspired by “ER”—it is “ER”. “The Pitt is ER. It’s not like ER, it’s not kind of ER, it’s not sort of ER. It is ER complete with the same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio and network as the planned ER reboot. No one has been fooled,” it states.
According to Wyle, however, “The Pitt” was born from a very different creative place. An ER reboot had actually been discussed, but fell apart during negotiations with Sherri Crichton. That breakdown led the team to develop something new.
“We pivoted as far in the opposite direction as we could in order to tell the story we wanted to tell,” Wyle explained. “And not for litigious reasons, but because we didn’t want to retread our own creative work.”
Even so, he acknowledges that one thread does carry over from his “ER” years: the deeply personal connections between cast and crew that often translate into onscreen magic. “We see each other fall in love, get married, have children, get divorced,” Wyle said. “Those relationships transcend the screen and become palpable to an audience who wants to be part of that family. I’ve tried to create it in every job I’ve gone on, but with varying degrees of success.”
“ER” Legacy vs “The Pitt”
Wyle’s portrayal of Dr. John Carter made him one of the most recognizable faces in primetime television during “ER’s” 15-season run. Now, he’s once again donning a doctor’s coat—this time, with a new motivation inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. “They were saying things like, ‘Carter, where are you? It’s really hard out here,’” Wyle recalled of messages from frontline workers during the height of the crisis.
The feedback moved him, and it shaped his vision for “The Pitt”. “I wanted to make a show about a health practitioner that we invest a tremendous amount of trust and belief and admiration in,” he said. “And when the shit hits the fan, we are expecting that white knight to come charging in on his horse. Then the horse comes in without its rider, and we don’t know where the hero is, and it’s because … he’s on the floor.”
As the legal battle unfolds, Wyle continues to stand by the show, even as it reopens old wounds from a series that helped define his career. For now, “The Pitt” stands on its own as one of the best shows of the year. The Pitt” is on Max.
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