HBO Films has suspended production of its Phil Spector biopic project after Bette Midler, who was a key part of the project, pulled out, reports Deadline.com.

Midler didn’t appear on set when she was scheduled to begin filming scenes, and two hours later director David Mamet told the crew that HBO and its insurance company were considering recasting the part.

Midler pulled out on "doctor’s orders" because she has a herniated disc, the story says. She had been cast to play Linda Kenney Baden, a defense attorney who represented Spector during his first murder trial.