Liberty Ross Anger Rupert Sanders & Kristen Stewart Will Work Together On SWATH Sequel?
August 3, 2012 by Hollywoodite
Even with its leading lady splashed across the tabloids, Universal isn’t offering specifics about pre-production on the Snow White & The Huntsman sequel. So, we’re left with “production sources” who insist Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders will work together again.
Stewart is compelled to return for the SWATH sequel because it’s in her contract. Sanders has no such stipulation. However, Universal reportedly wants Sanders to return. And the studio seems unconcerned how the scandal will affect the box office (can you imagine, though: the headlines, the paparazzi stalking the set every day, production and crew analyzing every interaction for the weeklies?!)
But it does look as though director and lead will be working together again. Much to the chagrin of Sanders’ wife, Liberty Ross, who played Stewart’s mother in the first movie. Reportedly, although Ross has forgiven her husband for cheating with his ingenue, she’s not thrilled he will be working with the 22-year-old again. If Ross did forbid their working together, Universal would be forced to replace Sanders.
[Liberty Ross told] Rupert Sanders… to forget about directing Snow White and the Huntsman 2 if he wants to win her back. The British model gave the stern warning to the movie director in a desperate bid to save their marriage after revelations he had an affair with Kristen Stewart .
Sanders, 41, was originally lined up to direct the sequel after it became a box office success. However, he is yet to sign an agreement with Universal Pictures who are considering putting someone else in the director’s chair.
“Liberty let it be known in no uncertain terms that Rupert can’t direct the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman,” a source revealed.
“They are trying to work things out after he was caught having an affair and that is one of the sticking points. She just doesn’t want him to ever work with Kristen again. Rupert is obviously disappointed because Snow White and the Huntsman was his directorial debut, and he had hoped on building on that with a follow-up after some decent reviews.”
“But he knows his actions were inexcusable, and he’s going to have to bite the bullet and listen to his wife on this one.”
“Also, when Rupert signed up for Snow White and the Huntsman, he didn’t know he was going to get a chance to direct a sequel. His contract with Universal was only for one movie. It was a verbal agreement that he was to take the reigns on the sequel, nothing was ever signed. Kristen, as the film’s lead, will get preference over Rupert and Universal will just find another director,” the source said. – via RadarOnline.
In related (obvious) news, Stewart is not welcome at the premiere for Robert Pattinson’s Cosmopolis.
In a laboured series of accounts, sources says security will be tasked with keeping Stewart away from the red carpet August 13 lest she use the opportunity to accost her former swain. Moreover, studio bosses don’t want the distraction from the movie itself.
A source says: “Despite the fact Robert and Kristen have been communicating by cell phone, she will not be at the Cosmopolis New York premiere. Security was briefed and they were told that Kristen is not allowed anywhere near the red carpet or the after party. The decision was made because Robert just doesn’t want to see her. There were fears that she could use it as a chance to talk to him in person and that sort of drama is not wanted at the premiere. There’s also the fact that if she did attend, it would distract from the film premiere itself and the movie bosses are not interested in that sort of publicity. It’s going to be Robert’s first public appearance since the scandal broke and they really want to make it less of a media circus than it already will be.”