Orlando Bloom has been blindsided by reports alleging he quit the indie film "Reset" at the last minute, leaving co-star Priyanka Chopra and the production in jeopardy, according to sources speaking to the Daily Mail. Insiders claim that leaks portraying Bloom as the sole reason for the project's potential downfall are "vindictive" and intended to deflect blame from ongoing production problems.
"Orlando didn't quit at the last minute. It's all bulls***," a production insider told the Daily Mail. "It would be nice to tell the truth. I do not like that Orlando has been thrown under the bus. I can't even believe it."
Last week, a TMZ article alleged that cast and crew felt "screwed over" by Bloom, but multiple sources have pushed back, describing months of "chaos" involving budget constraints and shifting locations and schedules that ultimately led to the actor's decision to exit. The actor was reportedly "disappointed and shocked" to read the narrative that he had negatively impacted the film.
Sources indicate that issues came to a head in mid-to-late July when director Matt Smukler resigned due to a progressively shrinking budget. "The scope and some of the circumstances of the production just changed from what sort of initially had been anticipated. Matt just ultimately felt that it was best for him to step away," a second insider with knowledge of Smukler's departure explained.
"There was a lack of budget and a lack of transparency. They just kept changing the location because of money," the first source said. Filming had a tentative start date of mid-September, with some scenes requiring forest locations that could not be delayed due to seasonal changes affecting leaf colors and continuity.
Smukler, described as a "strategic, methodical and planned" filmmaker, found the production to be a "moving target," prompting his decision to step aside. Both Chopra and Bloom, who were also set to co-produce, reportedly understood Smukler's reasons for leaving. However, the pressure mounted to find a replacement director quickly.
Bloom had reportedly expressed concerns that his involvement might be untenable if a new director wasn't secured under the reduced budget. "Orlando, long ago, got spooked," a source said. He remained with the project for several more weeks to see if a resolution could be found.
"They scrambled to find another director. It goes without saying that when a director leaves fairly abruptly, it was at a breaking point," the first source added, describing the environment as "very chaotic."
Insiders also sought to clarify that Chopra and Bloom are not in conflict over the situation. The two are described as friends, having met through their work with UNICEF. In June, Chopra had spoken positively about working with Bloom on "Reset."
Chopra is reportedly still attached to the project, but its future remains uncertain without Bloom as the lead. A third insider suggested Chopra views the situation as "par for the course" and is "sitting tight" to see how events unfold, adding, "No one thinks Orlando ruined the movie whatsoever."
Bloom is unhappy with the public's perception of his departure. "Orlando is very disappointed that this has happened. He's upset," the insider said. "He was disappointed and shocked. No one's happy about it and it's super unfortunate because it is a great script."
Representatives for the production company Fratricidal Films, Bloom, Chopra, and Smukler have been contacted. A spokesperson for Smukler stated, "Matt's grateful for the opportunity to have been involved and has tremendous respect for the talent and team behind the film. He wishes everyone involved the very best."