REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Director Bryan Singer’s production company, Bad Hat Harry, reportedly shut down its offices at 20th Century Fox on Monday night, just hours after the studio fired him from Bohemian Rhapsody, a film about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. A three-year first look deal Singer had with the studio was also not renewed past its Oct. 31 end date, according to Variety. Singer was axed from the production following complaints he was unprofessional and frequently absent on the London film set, causing a dispute with leading actor Rami Malek. Singer reportedly disappeared after Thanksgiving break and is believed to be in the United States. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he left the set to deal with a seriously ill parent. “I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen,” he said in a statement, “but Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first.” Singer has previously faced multiple sexual abuse allegations, including by a 14-year-old who sued him for allegedly asking young actors to film a nude shower scene, and by another minor who accused Singer of drugging and raping him. Both cases were dismissed.