FIRST OFF . . .

Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman and Elaine May have sued Columbia Pictures, seeking more than $7 million they contend the studio owes them for work done on “Ishtar,” the costly box-office flop. The Los Angeles Superior Court suit filed Friday also accused the studio of helping sink the 1987 film, which stars Beatty and Hoffman, allegedly by failing to meet advertising agreements. May wrote and directed “Ishtar.” Beatty also produced the film, which reportedly ran as much as $23 million over budget to ultimately cost about $40 million in what is considered the costliest comedy in Hollywood history. Both stars earned $5.5 million, and May was paid $1.5 million. According to the suit, Columbia reported in July 1988 that the movie’s gross receipts were $38.9 million, and that “Ishtar” earned another $7.4 million in videocassette sales. The suit contends the three plaintiffs are due $1.4 million from box-office earnings and another $352,184 from video sales. Hoffman and Beatty also contend they received $500,000 payments one year late, entitling them to $50,000 in lost interest, the suit said. Hoffman also claims Columbia owes him more than $227,876 for money he spent developing “Ishtar” and four other projects with the studio.