Johnny Depp’s “City of Lies” Release Comes To A Halt Due to Numerous Assault Allegations

According to Variety, Johnny Depp’s movie investigating the murders of rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, has been pulled one month before its scheduled release.

The film, titled “City of Lies,” was set for release on September 7th, but is now undated—according to a spokesman for the distribution company, Global Road Entertainment—and a new release date has not yet been announced.

The film is based on Randall Sullivan’s book, LAbyrinth—aside from the two murders, the detective also investigates the implication of Death Row Records’ Suge Knight and the origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal. Depp plays a real-life LAPD detective Russell Poole, while Forest Whitaker portrays a journalist, who is also investigating the infamous murders.

The decision to yank “City of Lies” comes one month after a former location manager, Gregg “Rocky” Brooks, sued Depp for alleged assault. According to Brooks, Depp punched him twice in the ribs and verbally assaulted him on set. The crew member also claimed that he was fired from production for “City of Lies” after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement that would have prevented him from suing Depp. Brooks is now seeking unspecified damages.

Additionally, Depp is supposedly facing a lawsuit from two former bodyguards, who claim the actor didn’t pay them properly and put them in “toxic” situations. In July, Depp settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit with his former business managers, whom he accused of “gross misconduct.”

Furthermore, Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard, accused him of verbally and physical abuse throughout their marriage. 

However, despite numerous abusive allegations, Depp’s next film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” a Harry Potter spin-off series, is scheduled to open November 16th.