Cannes, May 24 (IANS): Actress Anne Hathaway's upcoming film "Colossal" is facing a lawsuit from Toho, a company which owns the onscreen monster Godzilla. The film has been sued by the Japanese company for being too similar to their classic creation.

Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, "Colossal" is currently being shopped around at the Cannes International Film Festival.

"The Director's Notes also make clear that Defendants have not only taken the Godzilla Character as their own, but that they also intend to use the Godzilla Character in precisely the same way that Toho used the character in its initial film - attacking Tokyo," the lawsuit reads, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The story of the film follows a woman who, when news reports surface that a giant lizard is destroying the city of Tokyo, gradually comes to realise that she is strangely connected to these far-off events via the power of her mind.

"Toho is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges, that Defendants have knowingly used the Godzilla Character to attract interest and attention in their 'Colossal' project so that it would stand out in a crowded field of competitors on the film sales circuit," the complaint continued.