Twentieth Century Fox boots director Bryan Singer from Freddie Mercury biopic

This Dec. 2, 2013, file photo shows Bryan Singer at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” at the Dolby Theatre. Singer has left the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the middle of production. A representative for Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. said Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, that Singer is no longer the director of the film. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Days after Twentieth Century Fox said that director Bryan Singer’s “unexplained unavailability” halted production of the biopic about late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, the studio has decided to fire him.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported that the studio released a statement on Monday confirming Singer’s departure from the film titled “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

One reason behind the booting was a supposed rift between the director and actor Rami Malek, who is slated to play Mercury. Malek complained about Singer being unprofessional, unreliable and unpunctual. The two have mended their differences so that filming could resume.

Thomas Newton Sigel, the film’s cinematographer, had to step in the production after the director did not return after the Thanksgiving break. Singer’s absence was “the final straw”  Fox that prompted Twentieth Century to fire him altogether.

It was first reported that Singer’s representatives issued a statement saying that the director and his family were concerned with “a personal health matter” and would be back to resume filming after the holidays. No statement has been made as of writing regarding his firing.

The studio is expected to name a new director who will finish the film to be released on Christmas Day 2018.  Katrina Hallare /ra

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