The upcoming Madden film made major headlines last week when Amazon MGM Studios released its first image of Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale’s portrayal of Al Davis.
Now the highly anticipated project is back in the news, albeit under less ideal circumstances.
According to TMZ, an unnamed supporting actor quit the project late last week — just two weeks into production — over allegations that director David O. Russell used the N-word while discussing a scene. Per the report, five members of the film’s cast and crew independently leveled serious claims against Russell, including that he “was working with the unnamed actor on an impromptu monologue when the director allegedly said the N-word.”
The unnamed actor and others were reportedly so upset that they walked off the set before lunch, with shooting subsequently wrapping for the day. Studio sources, however, disputed key details in the story to TMZ, claiming that the actor had suggested that he use the N-word in the scene during a private conversation with Russell, but that it was never ultimately used in the scene or said by the director during shooting.
“The sources stand firm — David did not say the word while shooting the scene — but declined to speculate what upset the actor and others in the moment,” the report reads.
The alleged incident followed a dispute that occurred earlier in the day involving the same actor, who made it clear that he didn’t want to appear nude in a scene that called for it. This allegedly prompted an “unprofessional” reaction from Russell, although studio sources claim that the production team attempted to work with the actor, who remained dissatisfied, and that the director “calmly” said that he didn’t have to be in the shot.
“The studio stressed that nudity was not sprung on anyone,” the report reads. “Everyone knew well in advance parts would be on display.”
The report also cites a source who said that production has been a “mess,” with situations like the aforementioned allegations and Cage and Bale’s intense portrayals only amplifying tensions. In addition to Cage and Bale, John Mulaney, Kathryn Hahn, Sienna Miller and Shane Gillis have each been announced for the highly anticipated project, which has yet to announce a release date.