Bryan Singer Fired From Directing Queen Biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
Another high powered individual in the entertainment industry has been fired from his job. Unlike previous firings, this incident did not involve sexual misconduct.
On Dec. 4, famed film director Bryan Singer is a walking interpretation of Queen's popular song "Another One Bites the Dust." 20th Century Fox announced that they terminated Singer from the highly anticipated Queen biopic: Bohemian Rhapsody. This move comes three days after the legendary production company forced the Queen biopic to shut down production in London, England.
Singer furiously took a shot at the production company in a statement to the press.
"I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen," Singer stated. "But Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first."
Missing In Action
The common link between both Singer's termination and Bohemian Rhapsody's production shut down involved Singer's infrequent work days. The X-Men franchise director failed to show up to work three days before 20th Century Fox halted production. Singer's absence could have been due to a potential illness that not only affected him, but also a family member.
Trouble With 'Freddie Mercury'
There is no denying that the most critical centerpiece in any biopic related to Queen is the late Freddie Mercury. Thousands of actors auditioned to portray the iconic frontman, but it was Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek, who received the coveted role. In addition to Singer's approval, Malek also received the blessings of Queen founding members Dr. Brian May and Roger Taylor.
At first, Singer was looking forward to working with Malek. He even put up a photo of the classic Queen line-up with the caption: "Looking forward to Rami Malek who is playing Freddie Mercury" on Instagram on Nov. 4, 2016. The Instagram post received over 5,800 likes.
Throughout the film process, Malek became annoyed with Singer's constant absences and complained to 20th Century Fox. Eventually, the conflict between the two men boiled over. While no physical fight broke out on the set, Singer did vent his frustration by throwing an object. According to a set source, both men were able to solve their problems with each other.
20th Century Fox has not announced who will replace Singer as Bohemian Rhapsody's director. The Queen biopic is expected to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2018.
