'Suicide bomber' film rethought

2005-07-31 10:47

London - The script for the Hollywood film American Dreamz is being reconsidered after the London blasts as it involves Pakistani suicide bombers out to kill the US president, a British newspaper said on Sunday.

The July 7 London attacks that left 56 dead were perpetrated by four British suicide bombers, three of Pakistani origin, plus one of Jamaican origin.

The film stars Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein and Mandy Moore and features a squad of Pakistani terrorists but producers of the black comedy have been troubled by the London blasts and the botched July 21 repeat attack.

One of the film's production team told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper the storyline may be too sensitive for the film's slated February release.

"Obviously we're extremely concerned about the sensitivities everyone has towards terrorism, especially in London," he said.

The script was written by Paul Weitz, who worked with Grant on the film version of Nick Hornby's novel, "About a Boy".

Weitz described American Dreamz as "a satire of American politics and showbusiness".

The Sunday Telegraph said the top terrorist's name was thought to be Omar: "an unfortunate choice in the light of Wednesday's arrest of bombing suspect Hassan Yassin Omar," wanted in connection with the July 21 attacks.

After the September 11 2001 terror attacks in the United States, several film projects were postponed.

Collateral Damage, involving a terrorist-bombed skyscraper and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was delayed.

- AFP