showbiz

'Fifty' remains at TIFF

Posted on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
by John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Despite legal threats against it, Fifty Dead Men Walking will still be appearing at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Future Films and HandMade Films International confirmed today that even though the subject of the biopic is considering legal action against them, the film will still premiere as scheduled on September 10th.

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Jim Sturgess and Ben Kingsley in Fifty Dead Men Walking. (Photo: Jonathan Freeman)

Starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess and Kevin Zegers, Fifty tells the story of former IRA mole Martin McGartland who was recruited by the British police to tattle on the group. McGartland escaped with his life and is still in hiding to this day.

Last week, McGartland threatened legal action unless the film was pulled from the Festival claiming rights issues.

In response, the producers have stated that McGartland was a part of the process from the very start.

“Mr. McGartland was consulted by the filmmakers during the production, read the script and watched the film in advance of any public screening. He was also given the opportunity to have the name of the lead character replaced with a fictional character name, which he declined,” said Future Films and HandMade Films in a statement released today.

Fifty Dead Men Walking is being released in Canada by TVA Films.

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