Orlando Bloom was left stunned when he recently read reports that he let down his fellow producers and co-star Priyanka Chopra by quitting their film Reset at the eleventh hour.
“Orlando didn’t quit at the last minute,” a production insider exclusively told the Daily Mail. ‘They’re all bulls***.
‘It would be nice to tell the truth. I don’t like that Orlando was thrown under the bus. I can’t even believe it.’
Last week, a TMZ article claimed that the cast and crew working on the indie film felt “screwed” by Bloom and that the project was now in jeopardy because of him.
But the Daily Mail has spoken to several insiders who say Bloom is just a scapegoat.
“It’s clear someone leaked this to save their own life, otherwise it’s vindictive,” the source said.
According to sources, it was actually months of chaos full of budget issues and changes in location and schedule, making the process more like a horror movie. Ultimately, it forced the actor’s hand.
Orlando Bloom was ‘disappointed and shocked’ when he read about the story that he ‘ruined’ the cast and crew of indie film Reset, according to an insider
Bloom was set to star and co-produce alongside Priyanka Chopra, pictured here together in 2016, but pulled out of the project within weeks when filming was reportedly set to begin.
The first source said the problems came to a head in mid-to-late July, when director Matt Smukler dropped out because “the budget kept getting smaller.”
A second insider with knowledge of Smukler’s departure further explained, “The scale and some circumstances of the production have simply changed from what was initially expected.” Matt ultimately felt it was best for him to step away.”
In summary, the first source said: ‘There was a lack of budget and a lack of transparency. They only changed locations because of money.”
We’re told filming had a tentative start date of mid-September – partly due to the scenes having to be filmed in a forest, which couldn’t be postponed due to the way changes could affect the colors of the leaves and cause continuity issues.
“For a filmmaker like Matt, who is so strategic, methodical and planned, it was just too much of a moving target at that point for him to say, ‘You know what, it just makes more sense to step aside and let them find someone who can figure this all out,’” the second source said, adding that it was a “tough decision.”
Both Chopra and Bloom – who in addition to starring in the film would co-produce the film – understood Smukler’s decision to walk away, insiders said.
But the pressure was on to find another director in time.
According to the first source, Bloom revealed that his days on the project may be numbered if they couldn’t find a new director with the smaller budget.
“Orlando got scared a long time ago,” the source said.
Bloom followed in the footsteps of director Matt Smukler, who was the first to withdraw from the project
Insiders described a so-called ‘chaotic’ work environment that consisted of constant changes to the production schedule, locations and budget
However, the Lord of the Rings star apparently decided to stick around for a few more weeks to see if production could make it work.
“They were trying to find another director,” the first source said. “Obviously, if a director leaves quite abruptly, it was at a breaking point.”
“It was very chaotic,” they added.
“Movies are often compiled on the back of these movie stars’ names,” the first source said. “It’s kind of like a foreign sales model for putting a movie together.”
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives from the production company Fratricidal Films and other producers, but has not yet heard back.
What insiders also wanted to make clear was that Chopra (44) and Bloom (49) do not disagree about what happened.
Sources said they never saw any tension between the pair, who are “friends.” Chopra and Bloom reportedly met through their shared work and public appearances for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
In June, Chopra spoke on a panel about how “exciting” it was to work with Bloom on Reset. “I thought he was perfect for it,” she said a clip obtained by Variety.
We’re told Chopra is still part of the project for now, but it’s unclear if the film will move forward at all without Bloom as the lead.
Bloom and Chopra, 44, are still friends despite his departure adding to the chaos
We’re told Bloom tried to give the production the “benefit of the doubt” but ultimately felt it was best to abandon the project as well.
Chopra, meanwhile, believes the situation is “normal,” according to a third insider, who noted that the ex-Bollywood star is still “on the phone” to see if filming will resume.
The insider also noted, “Nobody thinks Orlando ruined the movie anyway.”
But Bloom is not happy with how this has played out publicly, the first source said.
“Orlando is very disappointed that this has happened. He is upset,” the insider said, adding of the leaks: “He was disappointed and shocked.
“No one is happy with it and it’s a shame because it’s a great script.”
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Bloom and Chopra.
Smukler’s spokesperson told us: ‘Matt is grateful for the opportunity to be involved and has enormous respect for the talent and team behind the film. He wishes everyone involved the very best.”
