Last year, director Bryan Singer was reportedly near a $10 million dollar payday to helm Red Sonja. Singer had previously been fired for unexcused absences on Bohemian Rhapsody. Earlier this week, The Atlantic published a story that accused Singer of having sex with young men below the age of consent. However, Millennium Films isn’t distancing itself from the director. Instead, producer Avi Lerner has doubled down on Singer.
“I continue to be in development for Red Sonja and Bryan Singer continues to be attached,” said Lerner, via The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
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While Lerner downplayed the allegations as “fake news,” similar accusations have followed Singer for years. Singer’s statement blamed the latest story “on a homophobic journalist who has a bizarre obsession with me dating back to 1997.” Singer went on to claim that Esquire killed the original piece after rigorous fact-checking. Alex French and Maximilian Potter wrote the article for The Atlantic, with over 50 sources to back up the story. They also contend that Esquire‘s publisher killed the piece, not the magazine itself.
Lerner’s decision is almost as surprising as Singer’s potentially huge contract for Red Sonja. Certain box office incentives will reportedly allow Singer to reach that $10 million threshold. It’s unclear if Singer’s involvement with the movie will continue to overshadow its development. Thus far, it seems that the only way Singer will be removed is if the public outcry becomes even more intense.
How do you feel about the latest allegations against Bryan Singer? Let us know in the comment section below.
