Shia was originally cast to star in the film but by the end of 2020, he had been dropped from the lineup and replaced by Harry.
Now, Olivia is revealing what actually went down — and it sounds like the rumors were at least partially true.
“I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work: His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions,” Olivia told Variety.
She continued, “He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.”
“A lot came to light after this happened that really troubled me, in terms of his behavior,” Olivia said.
She noted that for the film, they needed an “energy that was incredibly supportive” especially as she was going to be asking co-star Florence Pugh “to be in very vulnerable situations.”
“My priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported,” Olivia explained, later adding, “I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work.”
She continued, “Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.”
As for Shia, she says she is “just really wishing him health and evolution because I believe in restorative justice.”
You can read all that Olivia had to say here.
If you or someone you know have experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search your local center here.
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