Joel Silver Fired From Amazon Pic ‘Play Dirty’; Producer’s Lawyer Responds – Update

Matt Grobar
·2 min read
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UPDATED with statement from Silver’s rep: Iconic producer Joel Silver has been fired from the forthcoming Amazon film Play Dirty, Deadline can confirm. While the decision reportedly stemmed from alleged verbal abuse on Silver’s part toward studio execs over creative differences, Amazon has declined to comment.

The first of a number of projects in the works at Amazon centered on the Parker crime novels by Donald E. Westlake, which were written under the pen name Richard Stark, Play Dirty was at one point supposed to star Robert Downey Jr., sources said, but while he’s no longer involved in that capacity, with Mark Wahlberg now attached to star, Downey remains aboard to produce for Team Downey and had left the project well ahead of the fallout with Silver. The project was set to reunite Silver with writer-director Shane Black following their work together on such titles as The Nice Guys, Predator, Lethal Weapon, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which starred Downey.

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While it’s been reported that Silver was also fired from Amazon MGM’s forthcoming reimagining of Road House, directed by Doug Liman and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, sources tell Deadline that the producer had already “fulfilled his obligations” on that picture prior to the axing. He will not be involved with forthcoming creative conversations surrounding the film’s release early next year.

In a statement on behalf of Silver, attorney Bryan Freedman wrote, “As Amazon readily admits, Joel Silver completed all of his services on Road House and was not relieved of his duties, terminated or fired from his services on Road House. He finished the film and did an excellent job. With respect to Play Dirty, as agreed to by Amazon, Joel was in no way terminated with or for cause on that picture. None of this is in dispute. To say he was fired is irresponsible and defamatory.”

Best known for his work on franchises like Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Predator and The Matrix, Silver has also previously produced titles like 48 Hrs., Weird Science, and Tales from the Crypt. His most recent credits include the animated Brandon Bott Gets Grounded: The Movie, a 2018 remake of SuperFly and the George Clooney-helmed Suburbicon.

News of Silver and Amazon’s parting of ways was first reported by Variety.

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