Malcolm McDowell's appearance at the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been cancelled.

It appears to have been cancelled over the fallout from the controversial film project Monster Butler, a movie which was to be shot in Scotland which collapsed, leaving many crew with overdue wages.

McDowell has insisted he was one of the victims in the collapse of his pet project, Monster Butler, a £7 million crime drama based on the true story of Glasgow butler Archibald Hall, who killed five people in the 1970s.

Elaborate sets were built at Gosford House in East Lothian and despite overdue wages and mounting bills, the crew continued working on the project until it collapsed.

McDowell was due to talk at this year's festival about a new film, Bereave.

A statement from the film festival said: "We are disappointed to announce that due to a situation with a previous film, Malcolm McDowell will no longer attend EIFF in support of his film Bereave or his In-Person event on Friday 26th June.

"Our Box Office team are in the process of contacting those customers who have already purchased tickets and we apologise to our audience for any inconvenience caused."

McDowell said: "I truly regret all that has happened, and in the best interest of our film, Bereave, I think it's best for all those involved that I do not attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival at this time.

"This has been a very difficult decision, but the emphasis should be on Bereave, and nothing else but this film.

"I thank the festival for their understanding. And I thank all my supporters there in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland for their continued loyalty, kind words and good wishes".