There’s more drama and chaos on set than you can imagine behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. From irate neighbours to controversial cast dismissals, the journey from script to screen is seldom smooth.
As productions grapple with off-screen chaos, some of the most anticipated shows and movies of the year might never see the light of day. Here’s an inside look at the turmoil that threatens to keep these high-profile projects off our screens.
BRIDGET JONES: THE NEIGHBOUR FROM HELL
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that wherever there’s filming in London, there will be annoyed neighbours!
According to spies, the fourth instalment of the Bridget Jones film franchise called Mad About The Boy, which stars Renee Zellweger, Leo Woodall and Hugh Grant, has left North London’s A-listers fuming after crews have taken over the leafy streets of Hampstead and Haverstock!
“Neighbourhoods with stars such as Harry Styles, Rami Malek, Ricky Gervais and
Rowan Atkinson living there are all getting letters from the production about not interrupting shots,” a source tells The Sun.
“It’s gone down like a lead balloon with some of them and of course some of the normal people who live and work there.”
According to the source the letters, which were dropped to people’s homes, have informed residents about when filming is taking place, “and they have been asked to either leave their homes during this time or not to come and go at certain times”.
THE REAL MORNING WARS!
She played Reese Witherspoon’s character’s love interest in seasons two and three of Morning Wars. But Julianna Margulies has been axed from the next season amid a storm of controversy.
“Officially, Julianna’s character had ‘run its course’. But there were too many people upset at her comments about black and LGBTQI+ people to bring her back,” says the source, despite Julianna issuing a public apology for her controversial comments, which were made on a podcast earlier this year.
“Reese and Jennifer [Aniston] are sticklers for trying to avoid hot topics, but this was also a safety issue. Reese’s production office started to get threatening emails, so they really had no choice.
“Jen and Reese were furious about it as Julianna was a popular cast member and had incredible on-screen chemistry with Reese. That relationship is one of the storylines the whole team are incredibly proud of.”
WHY ANNE’S DRAGGING HER (PRADA) HEELS!
Anne Hathaway is on board to reprise her role in Devil Wears Prada 2, but only if there’s a fat pay cheque involved. And if that’s not forthcoming a source in her camp says she’s more than willing to walk away!
“The original Prada changed Anne’s life and redefined her career. And Anne proved this year that she’s still one of the biggest names in the rom-com world with her hit The Idea Of You,” tells a source.
“But Anne has also been down the road with talks about a sequel before and she hasn’t enjoyed that process one bit. Disney is intent on reuniting Anne, Meryl Steep and Emily Blunt, but the role needs to be substantial and the money right otherwise she won’t play ball and if that upsets Meryl and Emily, she’s sorry!”
DRAMA AT DOWNTON ABBEY!
The cast are normally as close as family, but insiders say filming of Downton Abbey 3 is not running as smoothly as expected!
“It’s not the happiest of sets this time,” reveals an insider. “They don’t have the budget they had on the last film so things are a little frosty.
“Michelle [Dockery] and Joely [Richardson] are not getting on well, which has caused some problems with the rest of the cast and crew. It’s nothing that’s bubbled over into a direct conflict, but it’s making for some awkward moments.”
The insider adds, “Michelle has always been the leading lady of Downton and she’s not happy about some of her thunder being stolen. Joely’s actually a real softie at heart, but she’s got that true aristocratic air that Michelle’s spent years emulating on screen.”
