Bryan Singer could be replaced on the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The film has halted production with a rep for Singer citing a health issue. However, the filmmaker has supposedly had trouble showing up, and that’s led to talks of replacement, according to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
A representative for Singer told BBC that “a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family” is keeping him away and “Bryan hopes to get back to work on the film soon after the holidays.” BBC says they believe Singer and another member of his family are dealing with a health issue.
“Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on Bohemian Rhapsody due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer,” said the distributor’s statement on Friday, according to THR.
Aside from this health issue, THR says producers and the film’s star, Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), are done with Singer’s behavior. It’s gotten to the point where a cinematographer has said to have stepped in for the Bohemian Rhapsody shoot when Singer didn’t show up.
Producers have been “nervous” about the film and have thus held conversations about replacing him. Production on the film was said to have started in the U.K. in September, according to a report in Deadline from July.
Singer has also had unexpected no shows on the sets of Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse and Warner Bros.’ Superman Returns, according to THR.
Multiple sexual assault lawsuits involving minors have been made over the years against Singer. The conversations were reignited recently and Singer deleted his Twitter account.
Singer has directed four X-Men movies, Superman Returns and The Usual Suspects. Bohemian Rhapsody is slated for release on Dec. 25, 2018.
Until production starts up again, enjoy this video from September of Malek practicing as Mercury.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2g-8Z9uWFI
