Queen Biopic Director Fired As Production On Film Halted

Director of upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, Bryan Singer, has been fired while production for the film has also been put on hold. 

According to Deadline, Fox issued a short statement on the announcement, after the filmmaker (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) reportedly went AWOL for three days last week. 

"Bryan Singer is no longer the director of Bohemian Rhapsody," the statement reads.

Production was halted last week following Singer's absence, which personal reps cited as a "health matter". 

The sacking follows rumours of erratic behaviour by Singer on set, as well as clashes with his actors, including lead star Rami Malek, who portrays Mercury in the film.

Fox still intends to release Bohemian Rhapsody in December 2018.

Meanwhile, a string of past allegations against Singer have resurfaced in recent months. 

As The Daily Wire reported last month, actor Michael Egan III filed a lawsuit against Singer in 2014, alleging the director drugged him and "forced him into sex at parties...starting when Egan was 15".

Around the same time, another accuser stepped forward with similar allegations, though both cases were later dismissed. Singer denied both allegations. 

In 1997, a 14-year-old male also sued Singer, alleging he and other minors were asked to shower in the nude for his film, Apt Pupil; the lawsuit was later dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Singer was cited in the 2014 documentary, An Open Secret, exposing child sex abuse in Hollywood, though no specific allegations were made against him.

He is also attached to a forthcoming project, Broadway 4D, to star Hugh Jackman and Christina Aguilera, alongside Gary Goddard who has been accused of child molestation. 

The film was originally announced in 2012 but has continuously been pushed back. An official release date is yet to be confirmed.