bryan singetr

Bryan Singer has been quietly dropped as director of ‘Red Sonja’ by Millennium Films.  As recently as January, the studio had maintained that the ex-‘X-Men’ helmer would remain attached, even after a new batch of sex abuse accusations surfaced in an article published by The Atlantic.  This was just the latest wave of allegations against Singer, who has been plagued his entire career with similar accusations involving underage boys.  Millennium chief Avi Lerner previously dismissed The Atlantic’s report as “agenda-driven fake news.”

In January, Lerner declared:

“I continue to be in development for Red Sonja and Bryan Singer continues to be attached… The over $800 million Bohemian Rhapsody has grossed, making it the highest grossing drama in film history, is testament to his remarkable vision and acumen. I know the difference between agenda driven fake news and reality, and I am very comfortable with this decision. In America, people are innocent until proven otherwise.”

Singer’s termination stems from Millennium being unable to secure a distribution deal with him attached.  Singer was reportedly going to be paid $10 million to direct ‘Red Sonja’.  Ashley Edward Miller penned the screenplay.

Lerner himself has been legally accused of misconduct for hiring “unqualified girlfriends” to act as “producers” for Millennium.  According to a court filing, their role was actually to acquire prostitutes for Millennium movie stars and Lerner’s friends.  This case was settled out of court.

Lerner is now embroiled in the sexual allegation firestorm concerning Warner Brothers CEO Kevin Tsujihara and his mistress, Charlotte Kirk, whom Tsujihara reportedly helped get roles in films.  This complicated web of behind-the-scenes shenanigans also involves Brett Ratner and his RatPac Dune partner James Packer (with whom Kirk was involved with before moving on to Tsujihara), director Joshua Newton (another of Kirk’s exes), and Neil Marshall, the director of the new ‘Hellboy’, with whom, it appears, Kirk is now romantically involved.  Marshall reportedly fought to cast Kirk as Alice in ‘Hellboy’, but it was determined that she wasn’t a big enough name.  (Sasha Lane wound up in the role.)

Honestly, all of that sounds a lot more interesting than any fictitious movie.

Knowing all of these unsavory behind-the-scenes situations, I’m not sure there will still be interest in ‘Red Sonja’.  This film was intended to be a response to ‘Wonder Woman’, an empowering film with a female protagonist.  Coming from a company that allows women to sleep their way to the top, or that supplies prostitutes to its talent, undermines that message 100%.

Do you still hope to see a new ‘Red Sonja’ movie?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter