Top 10 Directors Fired Or Replaced On A Movie
#10: Bryan Singer
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“Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) The opening credits might read “Directed by Bryan Singer,” but several unsung heroes brought this music biopic to the finish line. Throughout production, Singer reportedly clashed with star Rami Malek and arrived late to set. The final straw came in late 2017 when Singer failed to show up to work, claiming his mother was sick. With more than two weeks of shooting left, Singer was fired. The day after Dexter Fletcher was named as his replacement, Singer was met with a lawsuit from Cesar Sanchez-Guzman. Despite Singer’s alleged unprofessional behavior and controversial legal troubles, he maintained sole directing credit on “Bohemian Rhapsody” per DGA rules. The film went on to become a smash hit, although nobody mentioned Singer in their Oscar acceptance speeches.
#9: Alex Cox
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998) This drug-fueled road trip comedy was polarizing for critics and audiences alike. And there was a passionate debate behind the scenes too, as director Alex Cox clashed with his cast and crew. Star Johnny Depp and author Hunter S. Thompson, who penned the original source material, reportedly were not fans of Cox’s script. Cox also butted heads with producer Laila Nabulsi over creative differences, leading the studio to hire Monty Python's Terry Gilliam as Cox’s replacement. Although Gilliam and Tony Grisoni rewrote the script, Cox and Tod Davies still retain co-writing credits.
#8: Steven Soderbergh
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“Moneyball” (2011) Steven Soderbergh was actually brought on board to replace director David Frankel for this adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book. The Oscar-winner had a unique vision for the film, taking a documentary-style approach, with real life athletes like Scott Hatteberg and David Justice playing themselves. Mere days before shooting was set to commence, the movie was postponed and Soderbergh was eventually let go. Bennett Miller of “Capote” assumed directorial duties, and Aaron Sorkin was hired to work on a third version of the script. While the end product might’ve been more traditional than Soderbergh’s initial idea, “Moneyball” was still a homerun, earning 6 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
#7: Richard Donner
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“Superman II” (1980) In 1977, Richard Donner was tasked with directing two “Superman” movies simultaneously. Both films were initially slated for a 1978 release, but only the first was ready. While Donner got through shooting 75% of the sequel, he was controversially replaced with Richard Lester. Due to Directors Guild of America rules, Lester reshot several scenes in order to get a full director credit. Some of Donner’s scenes still made it into the final film, though, due to scheduling and budgetary reasons. In 2006, Donner finally got to share his version of “Superman II” when a re-edited director's cut was released.
#6: George Cukor
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“Gone with the Wind” (1939) “Gone with The Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” share an interesting connection. Richard Thorpe was originally set to direct “Oz”, but when producer Mervyn LeRoy disapproved of his work, George Cukor became a creative adviser and Victor Fleming the director. Cukor soon left the production to direct “Gone with The Wind”, but when he ran into conflicts with producers and star Clark Gable he was replaced... by Victor Fleming. Although both films went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, “Gone with the Wind” won out and Fleming brought home a Best Director statuette.
#5: Edgar Wright
“Ant-Man” (2015) It takes a special kind of director to make a superhero like Ant-Man both badass and playfully self-aware. Having brought Scott Pilgrim to the silver screen, Edgar Wright seemed like the perfect candidate for the job. Although Wright was attached to the project for years, he ultimately left production over clashing visions. As Wright put it in a Variety interview, “I wanted to make a Marvel movie but I don’t think they really wanted to make an Edgar Wright movie.” While Peyton Reed took over as the film’s director, Wright’s screenplay and story contributions still received credit. Wright never intends to watch the finished film, but reportedly has no hard feelings towards the studio.
#4: Dick Richards
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“Jaws” (1975) “Jaws” not only gave birth to the summer movie season, but also established Steven Spielberg as a great director. Believe it or not, Spielberg wasn’t the original choice to helm this game-changing blockbuster. Producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown initially hired Dick Richards, but grew frustrated as he repeatedly referred to the shark as a whale. Thus, Richards walked the plank and Spielberg was brought aboard. At the time, Spielberg was only 26 years old with just one theatrical release under his belt. While he was still getting his feet wet in the film industry, Spielberg certainly made a splash after this directorial outing.
#3: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
“Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018) A Han Solo origin story from the builders behind “The Lego Movie?” We have a really good feeling about this… at least we did until Lord and Miller left the captain’s cockpit. Lucasfilm took issue with the duo’s emphasis on comedy. Co-screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan also didn’t appreciate their willingness to let the cast improv. Ron Howard was handed the Falcon’s keys, reshooting nearly 70%. While “Solo” wasn’t poorly received, it was seen as remarkably average, becoming the franchise’s first financial letdown. We’ll never know what might’ve been, but considering Lord and Miller’s success with “Spider-Man,” we’d love to visit the reality where they finished “Solo”... and maybe the one where Colin Trevorrow did “Rise of Skywalker.”
#2: Zack Snyder
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“Justice League” (2017) It was initially rumored that Zack Snyder had been fired from “Justice League,” but he actually left the project due to the tragic death of his daughter. Joss Whedon was enlisted to see the film through post-production and reshoots. Although Whedon had experience directing superhero crossovers, his quippy style didn’t mesh with the darker tone that Snyder had established. Whedon’s alleged on-set behavior didn’t help the film’s reputation as it went on to become a certified bomb. After years of fans demanding that the studio release the so-called “Snyder Cut,” the original director was given a chance to fully realize his vision for the film. Clocking in at more than four hours, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is widely considered the definitive version.
#1: Richard Stanley
“The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996) After four years, director Richard Stanley was finally given the go-head to adapt H. G. Wells’ classic novel. Problems quickly began to pile up – with actors dropping out, delays due to bad weather, and Marlon Brando fleeing to his private island after his daughter tragically took her own life. Additionally, star Val Kilmer proved unreliable and exceedingly difficult to work with. The studio fired Stanley … via fax. John Frankenheimer was hired to get the project back on track, but even he couldn’t save the movie from becoming a box office and critical dud. Stanley’s experience with “The Island of Dr. Moreau” was such a nightmare that it inspired a 2004 documentary entitled “Lost Soul.”
