The much anticipated Freddie Mercury biopic is looking for a new director

Director Bryan Singer has been fired from Bohemian Rhapsody, the much anticipated Freddie Mercurybiopic.

The production company, 20th CenturyFox, confirmed the news in a statement released on Monday.

READ: Production on the Freddie Mercury Biopic Halts Due to Issues With Director

This news comes after the bizarre circumstances last week; the director went AWOL in the middle of the shoot. Singer claimed that this was due to personal issues:

I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, but Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first.

However, insiders say the issues really come because of a rift between Singer and the movie's star Rami Malek, who is playing Freddie Mercury.

READ:Rami Malek Looks Exactly Like Freddie Mercury in the First Image From the Upcoming Biopic

According to theHollywood Reporter, Malek went to the production company about the director; at one point Singer allegedly threw an object during an argument with the actor.

Singer responded to the rumors around his rift with Malek in a statement:

"Rumors that my unexpected departure from the film was sparked by a dispute I had with Rami Malek are not true. While, at times, we did have creative differences on set, Rami and I successfully put those differences behind us and continued to work on the film together until just prior to Thanksgiving.

Bohemian Rhapsodywas scheduled to come out Christmas 2018. With these latest developments, the movie will almost most likely be delayed.

Source: Hollywood Reporter