Armie Hammer will distance himself from his upcoming movie, “Shotgun Wedding,” Page Six has confirmed, amid a brewing scandal over allegedly leaked messages from the star about his sex life.
A source familiar with the project told us that Hammer is “moving away” from the action comedy that is due to go into production this year.
A production spokesperson confirmed to Page Six: “Given the upcoming start date of ‘Shotgun Wedding’, Armie has requested that he back away from the film and we support him in his decision.”
Reps for Hammer did not comment.
Jennifer Lopez headlines the film directed by “Pitch Perfect” director Jason Moore.
Ryan Reynolds was previously intended to play the role of Hammer, and is an executive producer of the film, following a cold-footed couple whose wedding is held hostage at the destination. The film will be distributed in the US by Lionsgate and sold internationally to Amazon Prime last month.
The leaked messages allegedly coming from Hammer describe fantasies of rape and cannibalism, and the star has not yet publicly commented on the DMs – which have been leaked through an anonymous social media account called House of Effie. The account claimed that a message from Hammer to a woman said he is “100 percent a cannibal,” while another gruesome report allegedly spoke of “cutting off toes.”
Sources said some in Hammer’s camp have tried to bolster support for the star in town. But even hardened Hollywood insiders seem to be upset by the alleged reports. Regardless, the situation certainly seems different for Lopez, who continues to rank highly after her Hollywood hit “Hustlers” and Super Bowl halftime show last year.
Hammer’s upcoming projects also include the thriller ‘The Billion Dollar Spy’, as well as a planned sequel to his 2017 hit ‘Call Me By Your Name’.
The Social Network actor said in interviews earlier that he is a “dominant lover” who enjoyed “grabbing women by the neck and hair”. But he said marrying his now estranged wife, Elizabeth Chambers, changed his sexual appetite. “It gets to a point where you say, ‘I respect you too much to do these things that I actually want to do,’” he said.
He later told E! News from the candid Playboy interview: “Don’t drink during an interview.”