Fox is scrambling to handle fallout from allegations of sexual abuse against Bryan Singer hitting headlines a month before the launch of the director’s new blockbuster X-Men film.
This week allegations surfaced that Singer, one of Hollywood’s highest producing directors and producers, sexually abused a 15-year-old aspiring teen actor in 1998 and 1999. In the suit filed Wednesday in a U.S. District Court in Hawaii, the plaintiff alleges that Singer offered him a role in the X-Men franchise if he provided the director sexual favors. Singer’s attorney has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “absurd and defamatory” and insisting that the director would be vindicated.
In the wake of the allegations, Singer has officially cancelled this weekend’s scheduled appearance at WonderCon. Fox is replacing the high-profile director with writer/producer Simon Kinberg. Fox is also attempting to figure out how to address the director’s scheduled interviews leading up to the film’s opening on May 23rd. Singer was supposed to promote the film along with other big names from Fox productions, including Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, Keri Russell and director Matt Reeves.
Deadline reports:
Deadline ordinarily doesn’t cover the personal matters of celebrities and hasn’t since its inception, unless the ramifications touch on business. This is the second time that has happened today since these allegations hit the press — with Singer’s attorney vociferously denying them. My colleague Nellie Andreeva reported that Singer’s name will not be used to promote new ABC drama series Black Box. A small portion of the promos in circulation for the series, which premieres next Thursday, featured the X-Men director’s name. They now have been pulled, at least for the time being, according to sources.
