When The Atlantic published new reporting about Bryan Singer allegedly sexually assaulting minors last month, the company producing his next film, Red Sonja, said the director would keep his job. “I continue to be in development for Red Sonja and Bryan Singer continues to be attached,” said Millennium Films producer Avi Lerner at the time. “The over $800 million Bohemian Rhapsody has grossed, making it the highest grossing drama in film history, is testament to his remarkable vision and acumen. I know the difference between agenda driven fake news and reality, and I am very comfortable with this decision. In America people are innocent until proven otherwise.” But now, with Singer still attached, Deadline reports that Millennium has moved Sonja off its list of priorities for the time being. “The project is not on the slate at the moment and is not for sale at the EFM in Berlin,” said the studio.
Lerner soon backtracked a little from his initial statement — in which he called the accusations against Singer “agenda driven fake news” — saying that he signed off on the response without actually reading it first, and that it “came out the wrong way.” Though he did not say anything about taking Singer off the movie. “I don’t want to apologize. I just want to clarify [the statement],” Lerner said to The Hollywood Reporter. “I think victims should be heard and this allegation should be taken very, very seriously. I just don’t agree to judge by the Twitter. I want [the accused] to be judged by the court.” Singer continues to deny all allegations of sexual misconduct.
