Biopic's chief subject has threatened legal action
TORONTO -- Despite a legal threat from the spy drama's main subject, the world premiere of Kari Skogland's "Fifty Dead Men Walking" at the Toronto International Film Festival will go ahead as planned, the film's British co-producers aforesaid Tuesday.
"In response to reports in The Hollywood Reporter, the film's partners have confirmed that any queries relating to the legitimacy of the film are idle and that due process has been followed throughout the product," London-based Future Films and HandMade Films International aforementioned in a joint statement.
The festival all-clear follows the biopic's main topic, former IRA infiltrator Martin McGartland, heavy legal action last workweek in a bid to stop the Toronto fete bow on the grounds that his rights ar being infringed.
Skogland adapted McGartland's 1998 book of the same name, which portrays an IRA mole named Marty who provides information to Britain's Special Branch before his insure is blown.
The films' producers said that, while they optioned McGartland's autobiography and "Dead Men" is based on his life account, it "is not a representation of Mr. McGartland's life."
Skogland and her cast, which includes Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess and Kevin Zegers, will be on hand for the Sept. 10 Toronto festival bow at Roy Thomson Hall.
McGartland, who remains in hiding because of fears of IRA retribution, was unavailable for scuttlebutt at press time.
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Tuesday 2 September 2008
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