Dame warned of ‘consequences’

Just a little Helen Mirren follow-up to Wednesday’s post about Prime Suspect vs Prime Suspect. As some may be aware, the Oscar winner has a key role in an upcoming, somewhat controversial, HBO project about the infamous record producer, Phil Spector.

According to the New York Post, Mirren, along with Al Pacino, who portrays Spector, and writer David Mamet, have been warned not to support the director’s vision for the movie.

Taking over for Bette Midler who dropped out of the film due to health reasons, Mirren will play the attorney who defended Spector in the 2003 trial where he was convicted in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.

According to the story, Edward Lozzi, a Hollywood publicist who represents a group called Friends of Lana Clarkson, has sent a letter to Mirren objecting to writer/director David Mamet’s interpretation of the story.

In his letter to Mirren, Lozzi wrote: “Mr. Mamet has publicly stated that he feels Phil Spector is innocent and should not be in prison. Saying that, we fear that he will rewrite history and portray Lana Clarkson as responsible for her own death. That is not acceptable and if he does so, there will be consequences from us to the press … and consequences at Emmy nomination time…., we will influence Academy members.”

HBO issued a statement, saying, “HBO has a long tradition of capturing real life events on film … and we hope people will reserve judgment until they have seen the film.”

Nothing like controversy surrounding controversy to generate press and interest in a story that was seemingly over some time back.