Studio Pulls Release Of Johnny Depp Film City of Lies

Deadline reports that the crime thriller City of Lies, which stars Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker, has been pulled from its September 7 release date. The film was directed by Brad Furman. It was set to arrive on the 46th birthday of the Notorious BIG, whose murder is the subject of the film. Biggie was shot to death in 1997 in a Los Angeles drive-by.

The film was hit with controversy after location manager Gregg “Rocky” Brooks sued Depp for assault and battery on the set in April 2017. Brooks claimed that Depp struck him after he said that filming in downtown LA was going to run late. Furman, as well as producers Miriam Segal, Good Film Productions and Infinitum Nihil were also named. Brooks wants damages for hostile work environment, retaliation, wrongful termination and seven other claims. Segal and Good Film were eventually dropped from the suit, which was filed on July 9.

In the film, Depp plays LAPD detective Russell Poole, with Whitaker as the journalist looking at the death of the rapper.