Why was a film about police corruption in Los Angeles delayed for years?

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: City of Lies, a crime thriller starring Johnny Depp as a disgraced detective, faced a mysterious release delay. While legal issues involving its star were cited, speculation persists that the film was suppressed to prevent a wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD regarding the murder of the Notorious B.I.G.

The film, directed by Brad Furman and based on Randall Sullivan’s non-fiction book LAbyrinth, dramatizes the investigations of retired LAPD detective Russell Poole. Poole’s theory, as depicted in the film, posits that Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight utilized corrupt LAPD officers—specifically Kevin Gaines and David Mack—to orchestrate the murder of Christopher Wallace, known as the Notorious B.I.G. Poole’s investigation also linked these officers to broader criminal activities, including the theft of cocaine from the evidence room by officer Rafael Pérez.

Poole’s efforts to expose this corruption were met with institutional resistance. His superior, Lieutenant O'Shea, ordered him to close the investigation into the shooting of Kevin Gaines, and the city eventually settled a civil suit to prevent Poole from testifying on the record about the LAPD’s alleged involvement in Wallace’s death. Following these events, Poole resigned in disgrace, losing his pension and his family, before dying of a heart attack while attempting to reopen the case.

The film’s path to release was fraught with complications. Originally scheduled for a September 2018 release, it was pulled from the schedule following the closure of Global Road Entertainment. While legal troubles involving Johnny Depp were officially blamed, some observers, including Adam Tod Brown, suggested the film was suppressed to hinder Voletta Wallace from reopening her son’s murder case. The film finally saw a limited release in March 2021, receiving mixed reviews from critics who noted its compelling, if controversial, exploration of real-world police corruption.

Ultimately, the murders of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. remain unsolved. The film serves as a dramatized account of Poole’s struggle, highlighting the systemic hypocrisy he faced. Despite its troubled distribution, the project remains a significant look at the intersection of celebrity, law enforcement, and the high-stakes legal consequences of police misconduct in Los Angeles.

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