News

Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Wright Cleared of 2008 Charges

Prosecutors have elected to drop the charges against actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, who played President George W. Bush and Colin Powell, respectively, in last year's W biopic. The charges stem from an incident at the Stray Cat Club, a bar in Louisiana, which took place when they were filming the picture last year.

Brolin, Wright and five of the film's crew members were arrested on July 12. Los Angeles-based lawyer Blair Berk—who represented the actors and the crew—said that prosecutors in Shreveport have agreed to drop the charges within the next 60 days. Videos of the incident were posted on TMZ.com in the aftermath and depicted Brolin and Wright hugging before being placed in handcuffs. Brolin was apparently pepper sprayed during the situation. Perhaps prosecutors were so impressed with the duo's work in W that it convinced them to dismiss the charges?

In other celeb arrest news, actor Sam Shepard was arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving last week in the quiet Midwestern town of Normal, Illinois. The 65-year-old actor and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright was driving 16 miles over the posted 35 mph speed limit in the central Illinois town when officers pulled him over. A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed Shepard's blood alcohol level to be double the legal limit.

Shepard was reportedly at a tavern in the nearby town of Bloomington and was driving back to his hotel before heading back to his home in Kentucky. Shepard eventually posted bail. No further information was available about the matter at press time.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
01.08.08