Producers Warned Gordon Over Murphy’s Husband
By WENNWednesday, December 23, 2009
Producers behind upcoming movie THE CALLER dropped tragic actress BRITTANY MURPHY from the project over concerns about her husband’s influence on the star, according to director MICHAEL Z. GORDON.
Local reports suggested Murphy was proving to be difficult on the set of The Caller in Puerto Rica and that her husband, Simon Monjack, had been fighting with locals.
Murphy’s representative blasted the reports, claiming the decision to quit the film was down to “creative differences”.
The blonde actress was replaced by Twilight star Rachelle Lefevre and Gordon subsequently hired Murphy to star in his next film, Shrinking Charlotte.
But Gordon reveals The Caller producers reached out to him to warn the director about the troubles they had experienced with the actress and her spouse, according to The Hollywood Reporter columnist Roger Friedman.
Gordon tells Friedman, “Monjack came on the set inebriated. The producers wanted to keep him away. Brittany of course defended him. And so she was let go.”
Murphy died at the age of 32 after suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday (20Dec09).
The cause of Murphy’s death has been “deferred” pending toxicological results, although an autopsy on her body was completed on Monday (21Dec09). Officials previously stated they believe the star died from natural causes.
Monjack wed the Clueless star in 2007.
