Angelo Bertolotti promises he will stop the production from ever seeing the light of day

Aug 14, 2014 15:08 GMT  ·  By
A sensationalized account of Brittany Murphy’s life will air in September on Lifetime
   A sensationalized account of Brittany Murphy’s life will air in September on Lifetime

This September, Lifetime will air a Brittany Murphy biopic, “The Brittany Murphy Story,” 5 years after the actress’ untimely death at the age of 32 from pneumonia and anemia. That was the plan, at least, because Brittany’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, has sworn he will sue the network to prevent the project from seeing the light of day.

Apparently, Lifetime did not consult with any surviving family members before greenlighting the film and getting Amanda Fuller and Sherilyn Fenn to play the leads, Brittany and her mother Sharon. Neither did they inform Brittany’s dad about plans for it.

“Lifetime has not been authorized to produce the true story of Brittany Murphy. I should have been consulted,” Bertolotti says in a statement to Radar Online. “I intend to litigate Lifetime in a court of law.”

Lifetime is yet to address this but it wouldn’t be a first when they made a biopic without authorization from the family. Even if Bertolotti carries out his legal threat, they might still go forward with the film.

Perhaps even worse for fans of the late actress is Lifetime’s explicit desire to base the biopic not on facts but on the tabloid rumors that plagued her for the last few years of her life, including on eating disorders, drug abuse, and other issues.

“Her desperation for approval and insecurity about her looks makes her personal life a disaster,” Lifetime said, adding that Brittany’s relationship with Sharon would also be one of the main themes tackled in the movie.