Did Bryan Singer use drugs while filming stunts on set?
Bryan Singer has been in all sorts of hot water as of late, between the accusations of running a pedophile ring in Hollywood, his on set behavior on a variety of his movies, and a drug addiction that led to injuries on the set of X-Men.
Yes, that last one is the latest on Singer’s laundry list. A new report from The Hollywood Reporter dropped and claimed that Singer was on narcotics while filming a stunt scene that led to Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman getting injured. Surely you remember Halle Berry’s “You can kiss my black ass” remark? Allegedly, that came because of this incident.
A mess of a set
This was far from the only issues on the X-Men set discussed in the article. Sexual assault, feuds with writers, Singer’s signature elongated absences, and a literal mutiny from the cast are just a few of the highlights of the set’s traumatic history.
While X-Men was a huge success and launched the superhero-led movie industry we have today, it didn’t come without its mistakes. Trying to make such a big blockbuster allegedly took its toll on Singer, and that’s what led to him turning into such a monster on set, and every movie set after X-Men.
Perfect day for a mutiny
Arguably the biggest story to come out of this report though was the truth behind Hugh Jackman’s injury on set, as well as the mutiny led by the cast because of it. Tom DeSanto, Singer’s co-writer and executive producer on set, tried to shut down production after finding out Singer had taken a narcotic along with other crew members, and was completely out of it.
Singer refused, and not only ordered filming to continue, but chose to do a stunt heavy scene that was supposed to be shot the following day, meaning there was no stunt coordinator on set. All this combined led to Jackman getting injured and bleeding on camera.
Producer Ralph Winter halted production immediately until the next day. But instead of praising DeSanto for trying to stop the shoot, he was told to return to LA and leave the set. Fearing for their personal safety, the cast (minus Ian McKellen and Rebecca Romijn) held a mutiny in Singer’s trailer, refusing to film that day if DeSanto left the set.
All the actors present even threatened to quit the movie if DeSanto left, which led to Berry’s declaration. Famously quoted constantly, Berry said “You can kiss my black ass”, but that quote was devoid of context until now.
Addiction is dangerous
This isn’t the first time Bryan Singer has been accused of using drugs on set either. Allegedly, Singer was “heavily medicated” while filming Superman Returns, thanks to some serious mental health issues. He would often complain about being in pain, and was more erratic than usual while filming.
Of course, there’s also the “coke and twink” parties Singer allegedly threw at his mansion where young boys would be sexually assaulted after getting filled with numerous types of drugs. But we’re specifically focusing on on-set behavior. Those allegations are a whole different story.
Forming the beginnings of his behavior
For many that have worked with Singer since this first film, they feel like this is the film that changed him. While he definitely had his flaws before, X-Men was when those flaws turned into production-affecting tantrums.
Singer up and left filming on X-Men: Apocalypse claiming health issues. Similarly, Singer also never returned to Bohemian Rhapsody after their holiday break, which is what led to his firing. Rami Malek and Sophie Turner also both claimed that Singer was unpleasant and difficult to work with.
It’s hard to deny the impact Singer’s works have had on the film industry, but it’s also hard to ignore the impact his personal behavior has as well. With so few female directors in charge of big budget projects like X-Men, it’s disheartening to see a man like Singer, who throws tantrums and acts unprofessional on set, score so many.
Failing to taint X-Men’s legacy
While Bryan Singer’s own legacy continues to sour thanks to allegations, it’s clear that he can’t ruin what X-Men built. Fellow producer Ralph Winter commented on X-Men’s legacy in The Hollywood Reporter report.
“I don’t find the movie tainted in any way because of whatever all the other current events are about Bryan. To me, that stuff doesn’t matter.”
Even as Singer’s reputation continues to falter, it’s hard to let that affect the franchise he helped build. He may be a mad man with a sexual assault record, but his work will outlast him ten fold.
