Phoenix film 'Blood' halted

By DAN COX

"Dark Blood," the Fine Line Features release that River Phoenix was shooting before he died, has officially stopped production, its producers said Thursday.

Exec producer Nik Powell and producer Joanne Sellar issued a statement saying they had recommended and the insurers had agreed to shut down the pic, budgeted at just under $ 10 mil.

When Phoenix died Oct. 31 of a drug overdose outside a Hollywood nightclub, the pic was already through two-thirds of its shooting sked. Powell said at the time it would be nearly impossible to finish the pic without re-casting and re-shooting.

The pic starred Phoenix, Judy Davis and Jonathan Pryce, under George Sluizer's helm. It was skedded for a 1994 Fine Line release with New Line Intl. handling overseas distribution.