Fresh off “Midnight Mass,” Netflix has announced today they’re reteaming with Mike Flanagan for “The Fall of the House of Usher,” a new series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe!
The limited series from Intrepid Pictures is “based on multiple works from Poe.”
“The Fall of the House of Usher” marks the fifth series for Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy at Netflix under their Intrepid Pictures overall deal, including: the fan-beloved “The Haunting of” series – “The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Haunting of Bly Manor”; the recently launched and critically-lauded “Midnight Mass,” and the upcoming “The Midnight Club.”
8 episodes have been ordered. Flanagan and Michael Fimognari will each direct four episodes.
Executive producers include Flanagan, Trevor Macy, Emmy Grinwis and Michael Fimognari. -@
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-nominated actor Frank Langella is out as the lead of The Fall of the House of Usher, Netflix’s eight-episode limited series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
Langella was the subject of an investigation, which has been completed, sources tell Deadline. It determined that Langella had been involved in unacceptable conduct on set. As a result, a decision has been made to recast the role of Roderick Usher, I have learned.
The Fall of the House of Usher is about halfway through production. The scenes already filmed by Langella will be reshot.
Langella had not been scheduled to work this week. Filming on the series will continue with scenes not involving the Roderick Usher character until a new actor is cast. Netflix declined comment. Reps for Langella could not be reached for comment.
Sources confirmed to Deadline TMZ‘s report from earlier this week that the investigation was launched after the 84-year-old actor had been accused of sexual harassment, including making inappropriate comments to a female co-star on set during work.
Langella led the cast of The Fall of the House of Usher, which also stars Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, Carl Lumbly and Mark Hamill.
The eight-episode series is described as an epic tale of greed, horror and tragedy. Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher, which serves as the basis for the show, features themes of madness, family, isolation and identity.
Roderick Usher, the role previously played by Langella that now is being recast, is the towering patriarch of the Usher dynasty.
The series, which was created by Mike Flanagan, is exec produced by the auteur along with his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy as well as Emmy Grinwis and Michael Fimognari. Intrepid Pictures’ Melinda Nishioka co-executive produces the project. Flanagan and Michael Fimognari each direct four episodes.
On April 14 of this year, I was fired by Netflix for what they determined to be unacceptable behavior on set. My first instinct was to blame. To lash out and seek vengeance. I interviewed crisis managers, tough connected lawyers, the professionally sympathetic at $800 per hour. Free advice was proffered as well:
“Don’t play the victim.” “Don’t sue. They’ll dig into your past.” “Sign the NDA, take the money and run.” “Do the talk shows, show contrition, feign humility. Say you’ve learned a lot.”
Apologize. Apologize. Apologize.
I was playing the leading role of Roderick Usher in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher, modernized as an eight-episode series for Netflix. It is a glorious role, and I had come to regard it as, most likely, my last hurrah. Bizarrely prophetic under the current circumstances.
On March 25 of this year, I was performing a love scene with the actress playing my young wife. Both of us were fully clothed. I was sitting on a couch, she was standing in front of me. The director called “cut.” “He touched my leg,” said the actress. “That was not in the blocking.” She then turned and walked off the set, followed by the director and the intimacy coordinator. I attempted to follow but was asked to “give her some space.” I waited for approximately one hour, and was then told she was not returning to set and we were wrapped.
Not long after, an investigation began. Approximately one week later, Human Resources asked to speak to me by phone. “Before the love scene began on March 25,” said the questioner, “our intimacy coordinator suggested where you both should put your hands. It has been brought to our attention that you said, ‘This is absurd!’” “Yes,” I said, “I did. And I still think so.” It was a love scene on camera. Legislating the placement of hands, to my mind, is ludicrous. It undermines instinct and spontaneity. Toward the end of our conversation, she suggested that I not contact the young lady, the intimacy coordinator, or anyone else in the company. “We don’t want to risk retaliation,” she said. When I mentioned that it was certainly not my intention to … she cut me off politely and said: “Intention is not our concern. Netflix deals only with impact.”
When you are the leading actor, it requires, in my opinion, that you set an example by keeping the atmosphere light and friendly. Nevertheless, these were some of the allegations: 1. “He told an off-color joke. 2. “Sometimes he called me ‘baby’ or ‘honey.’” 3. “He’d give me a hug or touch my shoulder.”
“You cannot do that, Frank,” said our producer. “You can’t joke. You can’t compliment. You can’t touch. It’s a new order.”
On April 13, the following item appeared on TMZ: “Frank Langella has been fired by Netflix for fondling a young actress between takes and she stormed off the set.” That is demonstrably false. That is a total lie. The actress was mentioned by name. The same young woman who had accused me of “touching her leg” on camera in the love scene. The next day the item was corrected to read: “Frank Langella has not been fired but is under investigation.” In this version, the actress’s name was deleted.
That afternoon, I was fired. I was not given a hearing with Netflix. My request to meet one-on-one with the actress was denied. The directors and the producer stopped answering my emails and phone calls. Within 30 minutes of my firing, a letter went out to cast and crew and a full press release was sent immediately. My representatives and I were given no opportunity to comment or collaborate on the narrative.
I cannot speak to the intentions of my accuser or Netflix, but the impact on me has been incalculable. I lost a thrilling part, the chance at future earnings and perhaps face a stretch of unemployment. Netflix terminated me after three months of work with only three weeks left to shoot, and I have as yet to be fully remunerated for my services. Most importantly, my reputation has been tarnished.
These indignities are, to my mind, the real definition of unacceptable behavior.
Cancel culture is the antithesis of democracy. It inhibits conversation and debate. It limits our ability to listen, mediate, and exchange opposing views. Most tragically, it annihilates moral judgment.
This is not fair. This is not just. This is not American.
Has it been confirmed who the actress was? Was it Flanagan's wife?
I'm not sure, but when TMZ originally posted the news that Langella was fired the actress name was listed. It was edited out afterwards. So its got to be out there somewhere.
Langella said in his response on deadline that it was the actress who played his wife. But who everyone is playing hasn't been listed yet.
I'm not sure, but when TMZ originally posted the news that Langella was fired the actress name was listed. It was edited out afterwards. So its got to be out there somewhere.
Langella said in his response on deadline that it was the actress who played his wife. But who everyone is playing hasn't been listed yet.
If this one incident is just the beginning of a broader trend...
I may be in the minority for thinking this and for being a bit alarmed (and disgusted) here, but Cancel Culture is starting to get a little bit out of hand. It won't be long before looking at someone the "wrong" way will get you tarred and feathered.
He wasn't "canceled", he was fired. And according to the man himself, he was told not to behave innaopropiately and then did so. Try that in an office and see where it gets you.
So nice try, but you failed.
Have to say I agree. He touched her in a place she didn't agree to. He kept touching people. He kept calling the women pet names when asked not to. He'd make lewd jokes to/potentially about his female co-workers when asked not to. He blew off the intimacy staging for the love scene and didn't care what the rules were.
Nothing about his response paints him as a victim, nor does it garner sympathy. I can't imagine any guy here would want their wife working with a co-worker like that. I can't imagine any woman here would want to work with a co-worker like that. .
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The Fall of the House of Usher - (Netflix Series)
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