Anthony McCarten and Stephen Sinclair filed a $100m (£60m) copyright infringement lawsuit in March claiming the film was "strikingly similar" to their 1987 play Ladies Night.

US District Judge Gary Taylor has now requested more evidence to support their claims before deciding whether or not to dismiss the case.

The film's backers, 20th Century Fox, believe the case should be tried in Britain, where the majority of the witnesses live.

Bert Field, a lawyer for 20th Century Fox, said: "The American taxpayer should not be asked to pay for a trial involving two New Zealanders' claims against three English individuals."

Don Engel, the playwrights' lawyer, wants the case tried in the US.

He said: "English courts do not give any remedy in their court for copyright infringement law. English courts would not consider all of the claims."

The lawsuit names 20th Cenutry Fox, a British company, Redwave Films, screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy, director Peter Cattaneo and producer Uberto Pasolini.

All deny ever having seen Ladies Night.

The film's makers claim inspiration for the film came from English newspapers featuring the growing popularity of strip clubs in the 1980s and 1990s.

A BBC legal expert said Mr Engel was wrong to say there was no remedy in English courts for copyright infringement.