Director Lynne Ramsay has responded to reports that she has been served with a lawsuit after quitting Western movie Jane Got A Gun a day before shooting.

The statement, issued this afternoon [Nov 9], said: “Lynne Ramsay has not been served with this lawsuit and, when she is, she will respond in court and not in the media.  

“That said, the allegations as recently reported are simply false. Lynne looks forward to presenting the truth about this situation in the proper forum.”

The statement was released following reports this week that the producers of Jane Got A Gun, a Western starring Natalie Portman, had taken legal action against the Scottish director, who exited the feature a day before shooting.

They claim Ramsay, who was BAFTA-nominated for We Need To Talk About Kevin, was paid $750,000 to work on the screenplay and to direct but her last-minute departure delayed production.

Michael Fassbender followed Ramsay off the troubled project.

Jude Law was brought in as a replacement but also exited as did Bradley Cooper after him.

Ewan McGregor was brought in to star with Portman and Gavin O’Connor (Warrior) signed on to direct.

The film stars Portman as the wife of an injured outlaw, who is forced to defend her farm from his former gang after they attempt to murder him.