Quick Takes

'Hurt Locker' lawsuit filed

An Army bomb disposal expert who served in the Iraq war is suing the makers of "The Hurt Locker," claiming the Oscar-nominated film's lead character, Will James, is based on him. Attorney Geoffrey Fieger said Wednesday that he filed the lawsuit in New Jersey federal court on behalf of Master Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver. He declined to specify how much money his client was seeking. Sarver, of Clarksville, Tenn., claims Oscar-nominated screenwriter Mark Boal was embedded in his three-person unit and that the information he gathered was used in the film. Sarver also says he coined the phrase "The Hurt Locker." Boal disputed that James was based entirely on Sarver and said the film was a work of fiction. "Jeff is a brave soldier and a good guy. Like a lot of soldiers, he identifies with the film, but the character I wrote is fictional," Boal said in a statement. "The film is a work of fiction inspired by many people's stories, not the life story of any one person."

'SNL' presidents unite

The comedians who played presidents on "Saturday Night Live" have gathered for a comedic summit in a Web video on FunnyOrDie.com. The video, posted Wednesday, stars Fred Armisen as President Barack Obama. During the night, he is visited by the ghosts of presidents past, who urge him to push for financial reform. Will Ferrell stars as George W. Bush, Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton, Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush, Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter and Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford. The video, directed by Ron Howard, was made in association with Americans for Financial Reform, a pro-regulation coalition of labor and consumer activists.

Reynolds has heart bypass

Burt Reynolds' manager says the actor has been released from a Florida hospital after a planned heart bypass operation. Erik Kritzer said Reynolds went into the hospital on Monday and was discharged Tuesday. Kritzer said Reynolds, 74, told him that he has "a great motor with brand new pipes" and is "feeling great." Last year, Reynolds spent time in a Florida rehab center after treatment for painkiller abuse following back surgery.

-- Compiled from wire reports