Queen Movie Replaces Fired Bryan Singer With New Director

Days after announcing that X-Men: Apocalypse director Bryan Singer had been fired from the upcoming Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, 20th Century Fox has announced who will take the reins and complete production on the film. Dexter Fletcher, best known as the director of 2016's Eddie the Eagle, will step up to lead the movie.

According to Deadline, production will resume next week with Fletcher directing the remaining two weeks of filming. Still, it's noted that the new director could opt to reshoot scenes filmed by Singer. For Fletcher, working on the Queen movie will serve as practice for the Elton John biopic he's attached to direct.

Singer was fired from the project on December 7, after a prolonged absence from the set. The dismissal followed an earlier confrontation between the director and star Rami Malek, along with actor Tom Hollander allegedly quitting the movie over Singer's behavior, then returning to work.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter after his firing, Singer claimed, "With fewer than three weeks to shoot remaining, I asked Fox for some time off so I could return to the U.S. to deal with pressing health matters concerning one of my parents. This was a very taxing experience, which ultimately took a serious toll on my own health. Unfortunately, the studio was unwilling to accommodate me and terminated my services. This was not my decision and it was beyond my control."

Bohemian Rhapsody was originally slated for a release on December 25, 2018. It's unclear whether the delays in production will lead to a later release.