While the first trailer for theQueenbiopicBohemian Rhapsodywent over quite well, it was impossible not to notice that the trailer made no mention of the film’s director. This wasn’t exactly a surprise, asBryan Singeroriginated the project and directed most of the movie,but he was fired off the film last fallduring production for allegedly disappearing from the set after reportedly butting heads with starRami Malek. 20th Century Foxsubsequently brought inEddie the EaglefilmmakerDexter Fletcher, who was attached to direct a previous incarnation ofBohemian Rhapsody, to finish the film. So when all was said and done, the question lingered as to who would be the credited director on the film.
Well, as revealed in the new issue of Empire Magazine, it’s Bryan Singer. Indeed, Fletcherpreviously saidhe didn’t come onto the project for a credit and simply wanted to see the film get finished, so it doesn’t appear as though there will be a battle at the DGA.
ProducerGraham Kingaddressed Singer’s exit in Empire, saying theX-Men: Apocalypsefilmmaker wanted to hit pause on the film:
“Bryan Singer is the credited director of the film. Basically, Bryan had some personal issues going on. He wanted to hiatus the movie to deal with them, and the movie had to get finished. That was what it came down to… It wasn’t about reinventing the wheel. We needed someone who would have some creative freedom, but work inside a box. [Fletcher] did us a real favor.”
King says Fletcher shot about 16 days’ worth of footage, bringing the movie to completion, but it also can’t be ignored that Singer was removed from the project around the time that theHarvey Weinsteinordeal came up, and past allegations against Singer were revived.
But the fact remains that Singer directed the bulk ofBohemian Rhapsody, and thus a credit on that film certainly seems warranted. Early buzz on the film is quite positive, and King revealed in the same Empire issue how, exactly, they got Freddie Mercury’s vocals right for the film’s music numbers: They’re a combination of Malek, Mercury, and a Mercury soundalike namedMarc Martel.
It’ll be interesting to see how the film is received later this year, but Fox is coming off the massive success of The Greatest Showman so they no doubt feel confident about releasing another crowdpleasing musical during the holiday corridor.Bohemian Rhapsodyhits theaters on November 2nd. Check out Marc Martel singing Bohemian Rhapsody below.
