Eva Green film project becomes ‘Shakespeare’s farce,’ Supreme Court says
The film’s producer told the Supreme Court that making a sci-fi film starring Bond girl Eva Green had become a “Shakespearean farce”.
Royale actress Ms Green was slated to star in the dark thriller A Patriot, but production was canceled in October 2019.
The 42-year-old is now suing production company White Lantern Film, claiming she was entitled to a multimillion-dollar (£810,000) fee for the project even though it was cancelled.
White Lantern Film is filing a counterclaim against the French actress, accusing her of undermining independent film production, making “excessive financial and creative demands” and having high expectations. “not suitable” for the film’s budget.
Max Mallin KC, for the production company, stated that a “plan” was devised between actress, writer-director Dan Pringle and producer Adam Merrifield – described by the latter as ” Fake Campaign!” – to secure her fees and make a private film without the involvement of the project’s lender.
However, on Thursday, the High Court in London heard from Mr Merrifield, who denies any conspiracy to sabotage the production, saying his comment was a joke.
He said: “We had a week going to Black Hangar [the studios] and try to make this movie a success.”
The producer said there were plans to move to a new production structure, with Mr Merrifield leaving the film, but it is unclear if it has been done.
“At this point, it’s become a sort of Shakespearean farce,” he said, later adding: “There’s really nothing to sabotage.”
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Eva Green gave evidence more than two days earlier in the trial (Yui Mok/PA).
The court had previously heard that although the film was originally shot in Ireland, filming was later moved to Black Hangar Studios outside of London.
On Thursday, Harry Boyd – the project’s first assistant director, who later resigned – said he visited the Hampshire studio about six weeks before filming began.
He told the court: “It’s like a morgue. It should have been busier than this courtroom, with lots of people running around.”
In his written evidence, Mr Boyd – who has worked on projects including the 2021 Oscar-winning film Dune – said he only saw three or four crew members at work. for another project.
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“It was a leaky hangar with no soundproofing,” he said, adding written evidence that he was “shocked” by the facility.
Mr Boyd continued: “I have no doubt that the Black hangar is unfit for the purpose of making a major feature film. The facilities – costumes, makeup, changing rooms, etc. – are not of the right level or size for any team to work on.”
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The case will close later this month with a written judgment at a later date (James Manning/PA).
Mr. Mallin told Mr. Boyd that he didn’t go to the studio anymore, so he didn’t know if the soundproofing had been done.
“It’s hard to do in four weeks and it’s very, very expensive,” Mr Boyd replied.
The assistant director said the amount of work required to prepare for production would take “eight weeks, rush”, adding: “You can build a house in four weeks but it can collapsed after two weeks.”
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Ms Green said she did not want to work with executive producer Jake Seal and his team, but would not break her contract.
In the texts used in the White Lantern Film statement, Ms Green called Mr Seal a “devil”, a “devious killer”, “pure vomit” and “a liar and a cazy”.
Mr. Boyd, who has worked in film and television since 1990, told the court: “After dealing with Mr. Seal… I found him quite cunning. I’ve been doing this for a long time and you can smell the rats.
“I feel like he’s not doing his job the way you’d expect.”
The trial is expected to hear evidence from Ms Green’s representative on Friday, with a ruling on the case expected at a later date.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/eva-green-film-project-became-shakespearean-farce-high-court-told-42325326.html Eva Green film project becomes ‘Shakespeare’s farce,’ Supreme Court says