Los Angeles, Feb 13: Bad-boy actor Sean Penn is embroiled in a 15- million-dollar lawsuit filed by millionaire film producer Steve Bing that involves Penn's outspoken comments against the war in Iraq.
According to US media reports yesterday, Bing, best known for his fight over paternity of model and actress Elizabeth Hurley's child, is suing Penn for 15 million dollars, accusing the actor of trying to extort 10 million dollars from him in a dispute over whether Penn would star in a proposed movie titled ''Why Men Shouldn't Marry''.
Penn alleged that Bing ousted him from the movie because of his anti-war comments, and Penn demanded to be paid. According to Bing's lawsuit, Penn threatened to publicly embarrass Bing by saying a political disagreement between the two had kept him from making the movie.

''Penn's representatives menacingly warned Bing that Penn could not be controlled and that he was crazy and irrational,'' the lawsuit said.
Despite his peace campaigns of late, Penn is perhaps better known for punching members of the paparazzi while married to Madonna and doing some jail time for hitting a movie extra.


Bureau Report