Director Matthew Vaughn accused higher-ups at 20th Century Fox of tricking Halle Berry into starring in “X-Men: The Last Stand.” The actress shared a video Saturday of the director making the allegation at the New York Comic-Con event in 2023.
Vaughn was intended to direct the film but said he ended up quitting.
“This is a true story and I don’t care if I’m not meant to say it. Hollywood is really political and odd,” he said. “I went to an executive’s office and I saw an X3 script. It was a lot fatter. I asked, ‘What is this draft?’ They were like, ‘Don’t worry about it,’” Vaughn said.
He alleged that 20th Century Fox managed to secure Berry for the part using methods he didn’t agree with.
HOLLYWOOD – APRIL 28: Actress Halle Berry arrives on the red carpet of the Los Angeles industry screening of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” at the Grauman’s Mann Chinese Theater on April 28, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage) Getty Images
The famous director recalled that he proceeded to examine the script he was told to leave alone.
“So I grabbed it, and opened the first page, and it said, ‘Africa. Kids dying from no water, and Storm creates a thunderstorm to save all these children.’ I thought it was a pretty cool idea.”
He asked what it was all about, and the studio reps said, “This is the Halle Berry script because she hasn’t signed on yet. This is what she wants it to be. And once she signs on, we’ll throw it in the bin,” according to The Independent.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Matthew Vaughn attends the World Premiere screening of Twentieth Century Studios’ “The King’s Man” at Cineworld Leicester Square on December 06, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
That proved to be too unethical for Vaughn.
“I thought, ‘If you’re going to do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm, I quit,’” he said.
Berry ultimately did end up starring in the film but seemed unaware until Oct. 5, 2024, of the alleged tactics that were used to get her to sign on.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 11: Halle Berry is seen at the Michael Kors Collection 2024 Runway Show at Domino Park in Brooklyn on September 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) Getty Images
Berry shared her perspective on Vaughn’s story by taking to social media Oct. 5.
“Ya just never know the shady shit going on behind ya back!” Berry wrote on her Instagram account. (RELATED: Halle Berry Is Unrecognizable In Upcoming Apocalypse Horror Movie ‘Never Let Go’)
The famous actress showed gratitude to Vaughn in her post.
“Thank you Matthew Vaughn for bringing the dark to light.”
