The stars of 1968's "Romeo & Juliet," Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, have filed a new lawsuit against Paramount Pictures and the Criterion Collection over the home release of the film which included nude images during filming while they were underage. The new filing seeks "preliminary and permanent injunction that the Digital Release not be distributed with the Digital Photos included." The "Digital Photos" that are mentioned refer to images that were taken during the filming of "Romeo & Juliet" by director Franco Zeffirelli. The photos featured both actors nude while they were underage. The photos were included in the 2023 release and  "had been digitally enhanced such that, unlike the Original Work, the Digital Release depicted their private areas in such high detail that the gratuitous display was lewd and lascivious and demeaning to them." Hussey and Whiting are seeking "damages in a sum according to proof that is adequate to compensate Hussey and Whiting for the general injuries suffered as hereinabove alleged," including "emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, and mental anguish."

Tony Marinozzi, a representative for the actors provided a statement on behalf of Hussey and Whiting. "With regards to the initial lawsuit with Paramount, things didn’t work out as planned. For valid reasons, we then terminated the attorneys who represented us in that case," the statement began, referring to a previous lawsuit. "After an exhaustive search by our manager, Tony Marinozzi, we found two passionate lawyers Bill Romaine and Zishan Lokhandwala, who after examining our situation, expressed a sincere and realistic optimism in filing new causes (different from the initial lawsuit) of action against Paramount and Criterion for their 2023 digitally vividly enhanced re-creation of our images from the original 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ film...which they had no consent to do. This case seeks damages for Paramount’s and Criterion's use of the product which has further humiliated us with its digitally enhanced private photos, which serve as a constant and painful reminder of Zeffirelli’s betrayal." The statement concluded saying, "The facts, evidence, and law on our side....and by the grace of God, we are confident that our voices will continue to be heard in our fight for accountability and firmly believe that Divine Justice will be done."

Hussey and Whiting previously filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures last year claiming that the nude scene in question was child pornography and that the pair had been sexually abused while filming the movie - seeking $500 million in damages.