Fox has hired London-based Dexter Fletcher as the new director of Bohemian Rhapsody to replace Bryan Singer, who was fired.
Production will resume next week in London. Fletcher’s directing credits include “Eddie the Eagle,” which Fox distributed, and “Wild Bill” along with acting credits on “Kick-Ass” and “Stardust.”
The studio hired Fletcher 2 days after firing Singer under the “pay or play” provision of his contract. Fox did not elaborate on why it had fired Singer, but sources said that it was due to repeated failures to show up on the set.Filming has been taking place in London with “Mr. Robot” star Rami Malek in the lead role as Freddie Mercury, the frontman for Queen.
Justin Haythe wrote the “Bohemian Rhapsody” script, and New Regency and GK Films are the production companies.
Cinematographer Thomas Newton Sigel had to step in to direct on some of the days while Singer was missing,
Malek had complained about Singer’s lack of professionalism.
The producers are Graham King, Singer, and Jim Beach, Queen’s longtime manager. Denis O’Sullivan, Arnon Milchan, and Jane Rosenthal are the executive producers.
On Dec. 1, Fox had temporarily halted production on “Bohemian Rhapsody” citing “the “unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer.”
Tom Hollander, who plays Jim Beach, departed the film due to Singer’s behavior, but was persuaded to return.
Ben Hardy is playing drummer Roger Taylor. Gwilym Lee (“The Hollow Crown”) is portraying lead guitarist Brian May and Joe Mazzello (“The Social Network”) is in bass guitarist John Deacon. Lucy Boynton is playing Mary Austin, Mercury’s companion.
Mercury wrote numerous hits for Queen, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” and “We Are the Champions.”
Mercury formed Queen with May and Taylor in 1970 and died of complications from HIV/AIDS in 1991 at the age of 45.
Fletcher, a London native, is repped by WME and Independent.
