Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Kayleigh Donaldson | TV | September 4, 2026
The showrunner of the upcoming Amazon TV series Criminal is being sued for a slew of charges by a former production assistant. Ed Brubaker, the comic book writer who is adapting his own graphic novel series, is the subject of the lawsuit, alongside Amazon MGM Studios and Big Indie Pictures.
The production assistant, Ijaaz Noohu, is seeking unspecified damages over claims that Brubaker was abusive and maintained a controlling and dangerous work environment. In one alleged incident, Brubaker pointed a working firearm at Noohu’s face and pulled the trigger. In another, he repeatedly touched Noohu without consent, joked about rape, and asked him whether he supported Hamas. The lawsuit says that Brubaker subjected Noohu to “repeated and pervasive” sexual harassment, as well as “demeaning stereotypes” over their Sri Lankan heritage. This all allegedly culminated in Brubaker firing a functional firearm in Noohu’s face, an incident he says was witnessed by a producer who ignored it.
“That a supervisor with authority over the entire production would commit such an act — and that it would go unchecked — illustrates the culture of impunity that pervaded the criminal production,” wrote Fahim Rahman, a lawyer for Noohu, in the complaint.
The lawsuit faults Amazon MGM and Big Indie for failing to investigate the alleged harassment and discrimination “occurring in plain view and witnessed by multiple people, including senior producers. One person named is executive producer Phillip Barnett, who allegedly directed others to avoid documenting complaints and on multiple occasions stated, “Don’t say that in front of me,” and “La la, I’m not hearing that.”
Criminal currently does not have a release date. Its cast includes Charlie Hunnam, Richard Jenkins, and Emilia Clarke.
