Dylan tries to halt Miller film

Bob Dylan is trying to halt the release of Sienna Miller's new film because he fears it falsely implies he was responsible for the suicide of Andy Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick.

The singer's lawyers have written to the 'Factory Girl 's' producers and scriptwriter demanding that all distribution and screenings are stopped until they have seen it.

Edie Sedgwick, played by Sienna Miller, was Andy Warhol's brightest protégé until she died of an overdose of barbiturates in 1971. She became acquainted with Bob Dylan while living at Manhattan's famous Chelsea Hotel.

The musician's lawyer wrote that the film's original screenplay depicted an alleged relationship between the two using Dylan's name and suggested he dumped Edie Sedgwick, leading to her "tragic decline into heroin addiction and eventual suicide".

In the film itself the character is called Billy Quinn and is said to be a composite of Dylan, Doors star Jim Morrison and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. However, lawyer Orin Snyder says critics who have seen screenings say it is unmistakably Dylan.

He wants the film to be shelved until legal teams have seen it to determine if they think Dylan, who has "deep concerns" has been defamed.