French director Thomas Bidegain recently clarified the circumstances surrounding Jake Gyllenhaal and Vanessa Kirby's departure from his project, 'Suddenly.' An interview published in the French magazine Technikart caused quite a stir, suggesting that Gyllenhaal and Kirby's unprofessional behavior led to a $26 million loss in the film's pre-production stage in Iceland. However, Bidegain has now revealed that creative differences were the reason behind their separation, rather than any misconduct on Gyllenhaal's part.
Contrary to the claims made in the French article, Bidegain clarified that the film wasn't in production when the actors left, and Studiocanal, the financing company, did not suffer a $26 million loss. He explained that the project came together during the pandemic, so discussions had been limited to Zoom meetings. Therefore, Bidegain proposed a meeting in Iceland to read the script together, considering its potential as a shooting location and the scenic beauty it offered.
Over the course of a year, Gyllenhaal had become a producer on the film, alongside Alain Attal's Tresor Films, and desired more creative involvement. Bidegain maintained regular contact with Gyllenhaal and Kirby, sending them script updates and collaborating with Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Lindsay-Abaire on the development. This ongoing communication led Bidegain to believe that they were on the same page when they met in Iceland. However, during the script reading, it became apparent that their visions for the film diverged significantly.
Gyllenhaal and Kirby requested numerous changes that didn't align with Bidegain's own vision. Although adjustments to the script before shooting are customary, the differences in this case seemed irreconcilable. After attempting to smooth things over, Bidegain realized that the collaboration was untenable and made the difficult decision to part ways with the actors. He left Iceland after just four days, while Gyllenhaal and Kirby stayed behind.
The Technikart article mentioned that Gyllenhaal had a moment of enlightenment during a wilderness walk, where he encountered a horse and decided the film should be about the love of nature, rather than a love story. Meanwhile, Kirby desired a more feminist approach and a radical ending. Bidegain clarified that his vision lay somewhere in between, as he saw the film as a story about both love and love for nature, with a strong female character.
Following their creative clash, Kirby approached Bidegain to inquire about purchasing the script for her production company, but he declined her offer. Despite Gyllenhaal and Kirby's departure, 'Suddenly' was eventually made with a French cast, including Gilles Lellouche and Melanie Thierry, at a reduced budget. The film, retitled 'Soudain seuls,' was released in France on December 6, 2021, and sold approximately 250,000 tickets—a modest performance at the box office.
Thomas Bidegain is an accomplished French screenwriter, known for his work on acclaimed films like 'A Prophet' and 'The Sisters Brothers,' in which Gyllenhaal also starred. He made his directorial debut in 2015 with 'Les cowboys' and has since directed a segment in the omnibus film 'Selfie.' 'Suddenly' was intended to be his first English-language film as a director.
Studiocanal, the film's financier and distributor, commented on Gyllenhaal's departure, stating that creative differences are a common occurrence in the world of film development and that despite everyone's efforts, some concerns couldn't be overcome. Bidegain acknowledges the challenge that came with working with an actor who is also a producer, noting the divergent approaches to filmmaking between France and the United States.
In conclusion, it's clear that creative differences were the underlying cause of Jake Gyllenhaal and Vanessa Kirby's departure from Thomas Bidegain's film 'Suddenly.' Despite initial speculation about unprofessional behavior, Bidegain maintains that their visions for the project simply didn't align. This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges that can arise when collaborating on creative endeavors, particularly with diverging perspectives and expectations.
