Perhaps you thought that you’ve heard it all, thanks to the interwebs – but you most certainly haven’t.
Recently, Josh Trank‘s announcement of quitting his role as director in the “Star Wars” spin-off went viral. Following which, false statements and speculations started to spread.
After handling “Chronicle” and 4 years of production for “Fantastic Four“, Josh Trank quoted that the pressure he encountered was the main reason for dropping out of the Disney-Lucasfilm project a month ago.
In his first public interview last month, director Josh Trank clarified to the Los Angeles Times about news of him leaving the “Star Wars” spin-off. He claimed that he wants to do a lower profile project instead of a “Star Wars” movie after producing Fox’s “Fantastic Four”.
More specifically, he said:
I want to do something original after this because I’ve been living under public scrutiny, as you’ve seen, for the last four years of my life. And it’s not healthy for me right now in my life. I want to do something that’s below the radar.
He also revealed that he had hoped that there would be no misleading news with regards to his decision to exit the “Star Wars” movie but unfortunately, that’s not the case.
He stated:
At first I was like, I’m just not going to say anything because it will blow over but I was shocked – it just hasn’t blown over. People get so excited to raise their pitchforks. I knew that this was going to be questioned and it was going to come under skepticism as to why I left “Star Wars”. And it was hard. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life.
Well, rumour has it that Trank was fired from the “Star Wars” film because of his erratic behaviour on the set of “Fantastic Four”, on top of a conflict that had opened up between Trank and Simon Kinberg, co-writer and producer for “Fantastic Four”.
Trank underlined endlessly to L.A. Times that he wasn’t fired nor a part of any feuds. He asserted, “None of those facts were true – and any of the facts that were true were spun in such a maliciously wrong way.”
Kinberg, on the other hand, marked that Trank’s vision and passion for “Fantastic Four” had convinced him to commit and to be part of the project. Kinberg said of the rumours:
This, I would say, is particularly cruel. I haven’t really seen this level of vehemence against a filmmaker. And it’s surreal and unfair.
Trank also mentioned that his bond and Kimberg have become “closer friends” as a result:
It feels sometimes like I’m living in a Paddy Chayefsky script or something like that,” he said. “Every misconception that could possibly be made about this has been made to a hilariously satirical degree. And it’s people who haven’t met me before. If they met me – I don’t know, I feel like I’m a pretty harmless person.
Trank’s exit was not a surprise after all as it was previously reported that he was absent from the Disney’s “Star Wars Celebration” at the 11th hour. He made a disclosure and apologised on Twitter later on, and stated that he was unwell.
But alas, it prompted internet speculations that something was not right.
The as-yet-titled “Star Wars” film is not expected to hit theatres until 2019. Directed by Gareth Edward, “Star Wars: Rogue One” stars Felicity Jones and will be released on 16th December.
Meanwhile, starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Michael B. Jordan, “Fantastic Four” is slated to hit theatres on 7th August.
Source: Variety.
