Fights Over David Harbour, Cinematographer

Hellboy the comic-book character was born of an unholy union of lady and demon. But the most recent “Hellboy” film was born of clashes between director Neil Marshall and two of the movie’s 16 producers.

Insiders on the movie informed TheWrap a couple of collection of disagreements that boiled over when the producers determined to interchange Marshall’s go-to cinematographer, Sam McCurdy. Other spats concerned rehearsals, star David Harbour and the design of a tree, insiders mentioned.

Two folks acquainted with the state of affairs mentioned McCurdy was fired merely for doing what Marshall requested him to do, and that producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin had been attempting to ship a message to Marshall that regardless of being the movie’s director, Marshall was not in cost.

An legal professional for Levin mentioned that was not the case. “While my client will not comment on why Sam McCurdy was fired as that is a private matter, be advised that it was a group decision and it had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Mr. Levin supposedly sending any kind of ‘message’ to Neil Marshall,” mentioned the legal professional, Martin Singer, in an e mail to TheWrap.

Also Read: ‘Hellboy’ Movie Review: Rebooted Superhero Saga Hits the Hard-R Horror Sweet Spot

In the identical letter, Singer accused Marshall of encouraging this story. He mentioned that based mostly on TheWrap’s questions concerning the manufacturing, this story appeared “to be shaping up as a puff-piece for Mr. Marshall while tarnishing ‘Hellboy’ and my client.”

“I respectfully decline to comment,” Marshall informed TheWrap. Gordon additionally declined to remark.

Director Neil Marshall / Getty Images

Everyone concerned has sturdy credentials: Marshall and McCurdy’s lengthy skilled relationship consists of “Blackwater,” one of many best-reviewed “Game of Thrones” episodes. Gordon, who holds the movie rights to Hellboy, and Levin, who Gordon delegated to deal with a lot of the day-to-day oversight of the brand new movie, beforehand collaborated on 1997’s “Boogie Nights” and the 2 earlier “Hellboy” movies, starring Ron Perlman. They are at the moment engaged on Damon Lindelof’s “Watchmen” adaptation for HBO.

But many prime critics had been unimpressed by their work on the $50 million-budget movie, which at the moment has a mere 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Washington Post referred to as it “dull,” The Los Angeles Times “unnecessary” and The Associated Press “a series of violent vignettes strung together.”

TheWrap’s William Bibbiani loved it, calling the movie “a horrifyingly good time.”

Also Read: Why Lionsgate Needs ‘Hellboy,’ ‘John Wick 3’ and a Charlize Theron-Seth Rogen Rom-Com to Work

Whatever “Hellboy” is, it was solid via quite a few disagreements on set, in response to insiders whom TheWrap agreed to not title as a result of they feared profession repercussions for talking out. Several points stay in dispute:

• Three folks informed TheWrap that Levin interrupted Marshall ceaselessly in entrance of the crew as Marshall tried to rehearse actors, typically giving them totally different instructions than the director. Singer’s legal professional disputed that: “In truth, Mr. Levin would converse to Neil Marshall after rehearsals and focus on points with him at the moment.”

• Two insiders mentioned Harbour repeatedly walked off set, refusing Marshall’s requests for extra takes. Singer responded for Levin: “My client has no recollection of that ever happening. To the contrary, David Harbour gave everything he was asked of and more during filming.”

• Two insiders mentioned the script was re-written all through the manufacturing. One mentioned these doing the rewriting included actors Harbour and co-star Ian McShane. Singer responded: “Only a few scenes were rewritten during production, and neither David Harbour nor Ian McShane did any rewriting of the screenplay at all. Rewriting certain scenes of a movie during production is customary in the entertainment industry, including by actors, producers, writers and directors.”

• One insider…