Rob Lowe is set to play Drew Peterson in an upcoming made-for-TV movie. There's just one problem.
Peterson isn’t having it.
Lawyers for the former Bolingbrook cop fired off a cease and desist letter to Lowe and Lifetime Entertainment on Wednesday, threatening legal action if the plug isn’t pulled on the production by the end of Friday.
The counsel is reportedly concerned that the film, which is based on the non-fiction book “Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Drew Peterson” by former Joliet Herald-News reporter Joe Hosey, is an unauthorized use of Peterson’s name and likeness.
Peterson's attorneys allege that Hosey’s work is "nothing more than a deliberate and calculated assemblage of falsehoods constituting a character assassination ... to falsely and intentionally insinuate that my client is a despicable wife murderer."
“First and foremost we want to make sure Drew gets an unbiased jury pool,” Peterson’s defense attorney, Joel Brodsky, told Chicago Sun-Times. “But even after the trial, if these people are making money from the use of his name, why shouldn’t Drew get some of that money? It’s his story.”
Peterson has been behind bars at Will County Jail since May 2009, charged with murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He is also suspected in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.
Peterson maintains his innocence.
If attorneys are unsuccessful in their attempt to halt production this week, they have announced their intention to file a lawsuit to stop the Lifetime movie from being aired.
Lifetime and Lowe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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