After 8 Years Away, Bryan Singer Returns with Controversial Film About Israeli Occupation of Lebanon

Bryan Singer has quietly finished a new movie starring Oscar winner Jon Voight. The film, shot in Greece in 2023, is described as a period drama about a father and son. Israeli filmmaker Yariv Horovoitz, known for “Rock the Kasbah,” is also involved in the project.

After being away from Hollywood for eight years, director Bryan Singer is finally making a comeback. The filmmaker behind “Superman Returns” hasn’t directed a major Hollywood movie since he was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 2017.

His time away from the spotlight was largely due to ongoing controversy over past sexual misconduct allegations and professional setbacks that made studios hesitant to work with him.

A source who has seen the final cut but isn’t part of the production says, “It’s a really well made film with awards-season potential,” but warns it might stir strong reactions because of its subject matter.

The story is set in the Middle East in the late ’70s or early ’80s during Israel’s occupation of Lebanon. The source adds, “It makes Israel look really bad and could be polarizing.” Another source familiar with the project explains that the film follows an architect on a journey to find redemption.

Singer has a long track record of making commercially successful films. His “X-Men” movies and other projects have earned billions at the box office and won multiple Oscars for actors such as Kevin Spacey and Christopher McQuarrie for “The Usual Suspects.” Even amid his personal controversies, he was considered a rare filmmaker who could combine commercial hits with auteur filmmaking.

However, allegations of sexual misconduct have shadowed his career for decades. In 1997, two teenage boys filed a civil lawsuit claiming Singer made them strip naked for a scene in his film “Apt Pupil.” Additional claims followed over the years. Singer has never faced criminal charges and has denied ever having sex with minors.

The Atlantic published a detailed 2019 exposé during the height of Hollywood’s #MeToo era, which greatly affected Singer’s career.

At the same time, he was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” for absences and chaotic conditions on set—a nearly unprecedented move for a film already in production. Reports also claimed he caused problems during the making of the “X-Men” films.

After these controversies, Singer tried to return to mainstream filmmaking. He worked on an $80 million remake of the ’80s action film “Red Sonja” for Millennium Films. Although the company initially supported him, he was eventually dropped after failing to secure a domestic distributor.

Regarding his new film, one source says a domestic distribution deal is likely soon. International sales are expected to be pitched at the Toronto Film Festival market. Variety previously reported that Singer had been trying to pitch three films set in Israel to investors. He moved to Israel several years ago and has been working without an agent after being dropped by WME.

After eight years away from Hollywood, this new movie marks Singer’s first step back into mainstream filmmaking. With Jon Voight attached and a potentially controversial story, the film could both reignite debates about the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and put Singer back into the awards conversation.

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