Roger Hill, star of cult 1979 movie The Warriors, is suing Rockstar and Take-Two for using his likeness in the videogame tie-in which was released for PS2 and Xbox last year. Hill played gang leader Cyrus in the film, who famously addresses a crowd of New York gang members with the question: "Can you dig it?" According to Hill, who now works for a Manhattan business college library, Take-Two approached him with a deal to use his name and voice in the game.
He rejected the initial offer, and did not hear anything further from the publisher. The lawsuit seeks a payment of US$250,000, plus a court order to prevent the use of Hill"s likeness. A Take-Two spokesperson said the company "has a valid third-party license for the rights to use Roger Hill"s likeness and the character of Cyrus in The Warriors videogame and related marketing materials." Hill"s lawsuit claims that The Warriors game, which was released in October 2005, and has generated at least US$37 million for Take-Two and Rockstar.