Movie casting news premature, says Simply Halston author

Steven Gaines, the author of the biography Simply Halston, tells Variety columnist Michael Fleming that news of the upcoming film's casting is premature. Killer Films has announced that Alec Baldwin would play the legendary gay designer and that Jane Krakowski is slated to costar as Liza Minnelli, but Gaines says the filmmakers have to deal with him first. "I've sent cease-and-desist letters, because while they keep announcing cast, their option to my book lapsed and they haven't renewed it," says Gaines. "I signed a new contract but never got a check or co-signed copy. I'm close to settling it elsewhere, but every casting announcement hurts me." Fleming says Killer did not comment on Gaines's statements.