Orlando Bloom’s fury revealed: ‘Vindictive’ leaks after ‘months of chaos’ on Priyanka Chopra movie… as insiders spill on how last days on set really played out
Orlando Bloom was blindsided when he recently read reports that he left his fellow producers and co-star Priyanka Chopra high and dry by quitting their movie Reset at the eleventh hour.
‘Orlando didn’t quit at the last minute,’ a production insider exclusively told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s all bulls***.
‘It would be nice to tell the truth. I do not like that Orlando has been thrown under the bus. I can’t even believe it.’
Last week, a TMZ article alleged that the cast and crew working on the indie flick felt ‘screwed over’ by Bloom and that the project was now in jeopardy because of him.
But the Daily Mail has spoken to multiple insiders who say Bloom is just a scapegoat.
‘Obviously someone leaked this to save their own a**, or it’s vindictive,’ the source said.
According to sources, it was actually months of chaos filled with budget issues and location and schedule changes that made the process feel more like a horror film. Ultimately, it forced the actor’s hand.
Orlando Bloom was ‘disappointed and shocked’ to read about the narrative that he ‘screwed over’ the cast and crew of the indie film Reset, according to an insider
Bloom was set to star and co-produce alongside Priyanka Chopra, pictured together here in 2016, but backed out of the project within weeks of when filming was reportedly set to start
The first source said the issues came to a head around mid-to-late July, when director Matt Smukler quit because the ‘budget just kept getting smaller and smaller.’
A second insider with knowledge of Smukler’s departure further explained: ‘The scope and some of the circumstances of the production just changed from what sort of initially had been anticipated. Matt just ultimately felt that it was best for him to step away.’
To sum it up, the first source said: ‘There was a lack of budget and a lack of transparency. They just kept changing the location because of money.’
We’re told filming had a tentative start date of mid-September – in part due to the scenes that had to be filmed in a forest, which could not be delayed because of how changes could affect the colors of the leaves and create continuity issues.
‘For a filmmaker like Matt who’s so strategic, methodical and planned, it was just too much of a moving target at that point that he said, “You know what, it just makes more sense to step aside and let them find someone who can figure all this out,'” the second source said, adding that it was a ‘tough decision.’
Both Chopra and Bloom – who aside from starring in the film were set to co-produce it – were understanding of 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 made it known that his days on the project may be numbered if they could not find a new director with the smaller budget.
‘Orlando, long ago, got spooked,’ the source said.
Bloom followed behind director Matt Smukler’s footsteps, who pulled out of the project first
Insiders depicted an alleged ‘chaotic’ working environment that consisted of constant changes in the production schedule, locations and budget
However, the Lord of the Rings star seemingly decided to stick around for a few more weeks to see if production could pull it together.
‘They scrambled to find another director,’ the first source said. ‘It goes without saying that when a director leaves fairly abruptly, it was at a breaking point.’
‘It was very chaotic,’ they added.
‘Movies are often put together on the backs of these movie stars’ names,’ the first source said. ‘It’s sort of the foreign sales model of putting together a movie.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the production company Fratricidal Films and other producers but has not heard back.
What insiders also wanted to make clear was that Chopra, 44, and Bloom, 49, are not at odds with one another over what has transpired.
Sources said they never witnessed any tension among 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, per a clip obtained by Variety.
We’re told Chopra is still part of the project for the time being but it’s unclear whether the film will move forward altogether without Bloom as its leading man
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 quit the project, too.
Chopra, meanwhile, feels that the situation is ‘par for the course,’ according to a third insider, who noted the ex-Bollywood star is still ‘sitting tight’ to see whether filming will resume.
The insider also pointed out, ‘No one thinks Orlando ruined the movie whatsoever’.
But Bloom is not thrilled with how this has played out publicly, according to the first source.
‘Orlando is very disappointed that this has happened. He’s upset,’ the insider said, adding of the leaks: ‘He was disappointed and shocked.
‘No one’s happy about it and it’s super unfortunate because it is a great script.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Bloom and Chopra.
Smukler’s spokesperson told us: ‘Matt’s grateful for the opportunity to have been involved and has tremendous respect for the talent and team behind the film. He wishes everyone involved the very best.’
