Production on Jesse Eisenberg's new film 'Night Moves' is in danger of being halted.

Shooting on the thriller - which stars Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard - is due to begin next month but a lawsuit filed by 'American Psycho' producers Edward R. Pressman Film demands work on the project should be stopped after claims the motion picture is too similar to Edward Abbey novel, 'The Monkey Wrench Gang'.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Edward R. Pressman Film - which purchased the exclusive film rights to the 1975 book - claim some of the movie's characters bear similar resemblances to the tome's, both of which tell a story about environmental terrorists and feature a plot to blow up a dam.

The lawsuit states: ''By way of example only, both works feature the targeting of a dam for destruction by means of ammonium fertiliser-laden boats. In the novel, the principal bomb-maker is a beer-guzzling veteran who served overseas as a Green Beret, where he acquired his knowledge of explosives.

''The bomb-maker in 'Night Moves' is a beer-guzzling veteran who served overseas as a US Marine, where he acquired his knowledge of explosives. Both the novel and 'Night Moves' also feature a 20-something woman who starts out as a companion of another member of the group but develops a sexual relationship with the bomb-making veteran, despite his initial objections to her participation in the group's illegal activities.''

The lawyers of 'Night Moves' - which is to be directed by Kelly Reichardt - are now expected to respond to the lawsuit and explain how the forthcoming film is different to 'The Monkey Wrench Gang'.