Fox has officially announced the cancellation of their upcoming biopic regarding the kidnapping, brainwashing and subsequent crimes of Patty Hearst. “Twentieth Century Fox Film and its production partners have decided to cancel the studio’s planned project based on the bookAmerican Heiress,” the studio reported in a statement that was released on Thursday.
The film was going to be based off the book American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst, by Jeffery Toobin, which Hearst herself never had any say in. In a recent statement, Hearst slammed Toobin and Fox, claiming her inspiration being Oprah’s Golden Globes acceptance speech as well as the #MeToo movement:
“The book romanticizes my rape and torture and calls my abduction a ‘rollicking adventure. I was saddened and appalled that Fox 2000 agreed to finance and produce a movie based on Toobin’s book and that CNN has agreed to continue to perpetuate a one-sided dialogue romanticizing my torture and rape by hosting a podcast and docuseries through Toobin’s distorted lens. I refuse to give Jeffrey Toobin, 21st Century Fox, CNN or anyone else involved in these projects about my life the power to make me a victim again, or the power to provide a platform where victim blaming is OK.”
CNN, who had plans of releasing a documentary next month regarding her life story, have yet to respond or give a statement.
The film’s cancelation comes right on the heels of the announcement that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had been cast as the leader of the SLA and the company reportedly had plans for filming to start this spring under the direction of James Mangold with Elle Fanning portraying Hearst.
Are you glad that Fox has canceled the film? Tell us how you feel in the comments below!
source: hollywoodreporter.com