B.B. King has been hit with a new lawsuit after trying to block a filmmaker from releasing a tell-all film about his relationship with the blues legend.
Michael Zanetis penned the autobiographical novel B.B. King and I about his long-lasting friendship with the musician several years ago and in 2006 he moved to adapt the novel for the big screen.
However, The Thrill is Gone singer's lawyers sent the author a cease-and-desist order last July (11), claiming the film violated King's publicity rights.
And last week (begs02Apr12) chiefs behind King Size Film Production launched a legal battle against the 86 year old, accusing the music icon of causing a delay in production, tarnishing the movie's title, interfering with Zanetis' First Amendment right to free speech, and obstructing the writer's efforts to lure investors.
The documents were filed in California federal court and according to The Hollywood Reporter, the production company is seeking a declaration that its movie is non-infringing.
B.B. King and I features The Wire's Wendall Pierce as King and Almost Famous actor Patrick Fugit portraying the role of Zanetis.