Bette Midler to star in Phil Spector film

Bette Midler is set to star alongside Al Pacino in HBO Films’ Phil Spector telefilm. The diva will play Linda Kenney Baden, a defense attorney who represented the producer during his first trial for murder.

Also joining the cast of the telefilm — written and directed by Academy Award nominee David Mamet (Wag the Dog) — is Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), who will play Bruce Cutler, a attorney on Spector’s defense team.

Midler’s last TV series gig was for CBS in 2000-01 with Bette, a sitcom in which she played herself. Sixteen of the series’ 18 episodes aired.

Midler picked up a nomination for her 1993 telepic, Gypsy, which also aired on CBS.