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Filmmaker Joss Whedon is being sued for $10 million by a writer who claims they stole his idea for the hit horror film Cabin in the Woods.

Writer Peter Gallagher has filed the lawsuit against the Avengers directer and his co-writer/director Drew Goddard.

In his lawsuit, the author claims he registered a book with the Writers Guild called The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines - which came out five years before the 2012 movie - and it features a number of similarities to the film.

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As well as both being set in a woodland cabin, the similarities include both featuring five friends, aged 17-22, with the two females in the movie named Jues and Dana, while in the book they are called Julie and Dura.

Gallagher claims there are a total of 25 similar scenes between the projects, including a twist where the audience learns the characters are being manipulated and filmed as players in a real-life horror show.

While the book isn't a best-seller, the author believes Joss may have come across it because he used to sell it on sidewalks in Santa Monica, where the filmmaker lives.

(Image: PA)

Gallagher is seeking damages in excess of $10 million.

We’ve reached out to Whedon’s rep for comment.