USA Network halted production of the movie Who Killed Sue Snow?
after major pharmaceutical advertisers complained about its content, the network confirmed.
The movie is based on the story of two Seattle-area residents who took cyanide-laced Excedrin pain reliever.
USA pulled the plug on the movie after Johnson & Johnson complained to the network, the Los Angeles Times
reported on Dec. 6.
J & J, which produces rival product Tylenol, was at the center of a 1982 controversy in which seven people died after taking cyanide-laced Extra Strength Tylenol.
"You can attribute [the cancellation] to whatever you want," USA spokesman Ron Sato said. "This project will not be produced, and we don't have to worry about a crazy individual finding the subject matter too compelling for our comfort. We made the right decision, and we stand by it."
USA and its advertisers were concerned about the possibility of copycat crimes, Sato said.
The Thanksgiving-eve cancellation put 150 actors and crew members out of work, the Times
reported.
J & J spokesman John McKeegan said the company complained to the network about the show, but insisted it didn't threaten to pull advertising from USA.
"We became aware of the movie, and we didn't feel it was appropriate, so we communicated that to the network, and that's where it ends," McKeegan.
