A federal judge ruled Wednesday, after hearing arguments and personally screening the film, that Universal can release "Alpha Dog" as planned on January 12th, despite objections from murder suspect Jesse James Hollywood.
James Blatt, an attorney for Hollywood on whom the film is based, said he will file an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court to press his contention that releasing the film will make it impossible for his client to get a fair trial.
"Alpha Dog," which was screened at January's Sundance Film Festival, stars Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emilie Hirsch and Justin Timberlake. Even though characters' names have been changed in the film, Blatt said that the movie could taint the jury pool.
The film marks a couple of firsts says Blatt - "It is the first time ever that a deputy district attorney has released the contents of an entire criminal file to a motion picture company while a case is pending... It's also the first time a major motion picture about a crime is being released prior to trial" he told The Hollywood Reporter.
Prosecutors say Hollywood was the mastermind behind the August 2000 kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz. They contend the teenager was abducted from the San Fernando Valley area as part of a feud Hollywood had with the victim's older half brother over a $1,200 drug debt.
The teen's body was found in a remote Santa Barbara County camping area. Hollywood fled after being charged with murder and was captured last year in Brazil. He has pleaded not guilty to charges and could face the death penalty if convicted. No date has been set for Hollywood's trial.
