Singer reportedly missed several days of production and openly clashed with the film’s star, ‘Mr. Robot’ actor Rami Malek.
Production studio 20th Century Fox told the Hollywood Reporter Monday evening that Singer was “no longer” the director behind the project.
According to THR, Singer repeatedly failed to show up to work on the film’s London set over the last two weeks, with the outlet reporting that he has been in the United States for the last ten days. Due to the director’s absence, cinematographer Thomas Newton Sigel was reported to have filled in as an interim director for several days before the production temporarily shut down on December 1.
Singer also reportedly openly clashed with the film’s star, Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek, a confrontation that reportedly led to Singer throwing an object at the actor. Co-star Tom Hollander was also reported to have briefly quit the film due to Singer’s alleged behavior, but was persuaded to return by the studio.
In a statement to THR, the director said he been absent from set in order to care for a “gravely ill” parent.
“I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, 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,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source told tabloid Radar Online that Singer went on a “bender” over the Thanksgiving holiday after the studio asked the director whether any new sexual harassment or assault allegations against him were going to be revealed in the coming weeks. Singer was previously sued in 2014 for allegedly sexually abusing a minor, but the suit was later dismissed.
In November, USC’s film school said it was considering dropping Singer’s name from its Division of Cinema and Media Studies following allegations of years of rumored sexual misconduct.
Bohemian Rhapsody is set for release in December 2018. The film also stars Mike Myers, Aidan Gillen, Ben Hardy, Gwilym Lee and Allen Leech.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
