The movie which reportedly sparked a big blow out between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is nearing release after a legal battle left the film in limbo.The former couple teamed up onscreen last year (15) for London Fields, in which Amber played a femme fatale opposite Billy Bob Thornton as a terminally-ill, struggling writer. The thriller, based on the 1989 book of the same name by Martin Amis, had been due to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada last September (15), but it was pulled from the schedule after director Matthew Cullen filed a $1 million lawsuit against the movie's producers, accusing them of using "fraudulent efforts" to rework the movie without his knowledge.The legal action halted the big screen release of London Fields, prompting bosses at original distributor Lionsgate to pull out, but now filmmakers are working on a new deal which will finally bring the project to theaters by the end of 2016, reports the New York Post's Page Six column.It's not yet clear whether producers Chris Hanley and Jorden Gertner have resolved the Cullen lawsuit.
He sought damages and a declaration banning them from using his name to promote the picture without his approval.Representatives for the film have yet to comment on the release news.Amber and Johnny's romance blossomed after meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011, but they had a rather different experience as they shot London Fields together, during which the actors reportedly argued non-stop.One particular fight was detailed in court documents filed as part of the former couple's acrimonious divorce, suggesting Depp flew into a rage as he accused his then-wife of sleeping with Thornton. The papers go on to state the actor lost the tip of his forefinger after smashing a plastic phone against a wall of the villa he and Amber were renting in Australia.Thornton subsequently denied the allegations, telling TMZ.com they were "completely false", but a set insider claims Depp, who features in just 18 minutes of the film, had to be kept away from the leading man."
(Heard and Depp) were fighting constantly on the set," the source shares with Page Six. "The crew tried to keep Johnny and Billy Bob away from each other."Amber filed for divorce from Johnny in May (16), after 15 months of marriage, and accused the actor of abusing her throughout their relationship. The warring pair had been heading for a court showdown in its dispute, but managed to settle the case on 15 August (16), when the beauty accepted a $7 million payment to walk away and drop a restraining order she had obtained against Depp.
