Cancelled screenings are proving to be a trend at TIFF this year. First, the Aretha Franklin documentary, Amazing Grace, was withdrawn from the festival due to a legal injunction from the Queen of Soul. Now, London Fields - the adaptation of Martin Amis' 1989 novel starring Billy Bob Thornton and Amber Heard - has been pulled from TIFF as well.

News broke today that London Fields director Matthew Cullen has sued the movie's producers for $1 million, arguing they have committed fraud by significantly changing the film without his approval, but still marketing the film with his name attached.

His chief contention is that, "None of the revisionary elements that Defendants have interjected into the film appear anywhere in the script...Among other things, these elements include incendiary imagery evoking 9/11 jumpers edited against pornography, as well as juxtaposing the holiest city in Islam against mind-control."

TIFF issued an official statement (PDF) today about its decision to withdraw the film:

"We have worked to make our festival a public showcase for creative expression through the moving image, however with uncertainty surrounding the creative vision of the version of the film scheduled to be screened on September 18th, we feel it is only appropriate that we remove this film from the Festival lineup."

London Fields was set to have its premiere at TIFF on Friday night, with additional screenings on September 19th and 20th.

Those who had already purchased tickets can exchange them for vouchers for another film, or should contact the Festival Box Office for a refund.