Lynne Ramsay sued over claims she was drunk on set

Director Lynne Ramsay, pictured in Cannes. Picture: Getty

The director of We Need to Talk About Kevin and Ratcatcher was due to take charge of western Jane Got a Gun with stars

Natalie Portman and Jude Law.

However, she quit the day before official shooting was due to begin in March and Law swiftly followed suit.

Now producers of the film have launched a lawsuit against the Glaswegian film-maker at a court in New Mexico.

The executives, led by Scott Steindorff, claim that Ramsay was paid for a job she did not complete and they also allege her departure delayed the production.

Ramsay was brought in to direct the film and make changes to the script.

In court papers, producers allege she “was repeatedly under the influence of alcohol, was abusive to members of the cast and crew and was generally disruptive”.

They also claim she “failed to adhere to proper safety protocol for handling weapons on set, when she pointed a prop gun directly at a camera and, in turn, at the camera crew before first taking proper precautions”.

The lawsuit also alleges that, after her departure, she made disparaging remarks about the film to crew members and potential investors.

Producers are demanding that Ramsay pays back her salary, and they are also seeking punitive damages over claims of fraud and breach of contract.

In March, producer Mr Steindorff claimed Ramsay had failed to show up for the first day’s filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico, despite the production being ready to start.

Mr Steindorff said: “I have millions of dollars invested, we’re ready to shoot, we have a great script, crew and cast.

“I’m shocked and so disappointed someone would do this to 150 crew members who devoted so much time, energy, commitment and loyalty to a project, and then have the director not show up.

“It is insane somebody would do this to other people.

“I feel more for the crew and their families, but we are keeping the show going on, directors are flying in, and a replacement is imminent.”

Scots actor Ewan McGregor was later brought in to play the role which Law vacated.

Ramsay, 43, was unavailable for comment.

However, sources close to her have previously said she had not been presented with an approved schedule, script or budget mere days before shooting on the film was set to begin.

Jane Got a Gun was to be her first major feature film with leading Hollywood stars.

It was a “reward” for the success of We Need to Talk About Kevin, an adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s novel. Ramsay directed Scots actress Tilda Swinton as disturbed Kevin’s mother.

Despite her successes, Ramsay has experienced career troubles before.

She lost her job as director of the 2009 film hit The Lovely Bones, and Peter Jackson was brought in instead.

She later admitted she planned to change parts of the plot.

Ramsay studied photography at what is now Napier University in Edinburgh.