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FilmMagic/Jason LaVeris(LOS ANGELES) — Director Bryan Singer, who was fired Monday from the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, is criticizing studio 20th Century Fox saying the studio would not give him time off to deal with the illness of one of his parents.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Singer said, “Bohemian Rhapsody is a passion project of mine. With fewer than three weeks to shoot remaining, I asked Fox for some time off so I could return to the U.S. to deal with pressing health matters concerning one of my parents. This was a very taxing experience, which ultimately took a serious toll on my own health. Unfortunately, the studio was unwilling to accommodate me and terminated my services. This was not my decision and it was beyond my control.”
Singer did not refute claims of on-set tension between himself and star Rami Malek, who plays late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the movie. But, Singer says, “While, at times, we did have creative differences on set, Rami and I successfully put those differences behind us and continued to work on the film together until just prior to Thanksgiving.”
Singer’s statement concluded, ” 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.”
A source tells ABC Radio studio expects to have a new director on board in a few days, and that Bohemian Rhapsody is still on track to premiere in December 2018.
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