Director Fede Alvarez and actress Jane Levy made two really cool horror movies together, the 2013 version of Evil Dead (watch it HERE) and the 2016 film Don't Breathe (watch that one HERE). The possibility of a Don't Breathe 2 was teased for years before the sequel finally went into production, and during those years many fans expected the follow-up to be a rematch between Levy's heroine Rocky and the brutal villain The Blind Man, played by Stephen Lang. As the newly released trailer for Don't Breathe 2 shows, the Blind Man has been promoted into the lead, and Levy is not involved. Now the reasoning Alvarez has given for Levy's absence has stirred up some unexpected behind-the-scenes drama.
During a press event, Alvarez said,
Jane is amazing; we've made two movies with her and have so much respect for her. I saw her recent work, and I'm so happy that she's having so much success with her TV stuff. I think when I see her there, I see her in her true element where she's truly happy. When I saw her shooting this movie, I did not see her happy. I think that she gives 200% every day, and these movies are really demanding in the way we do them also. So I wouldn't have done that to her. In general, actors going through this – that take it seriously – go through hell. And she went through hell twice, back to back, with Evil Dead and Don't Breathe. By the time of Don't Breathe, it was even harder. Maybe when I called her, she would've said yes. I doubt it, but if she had, I would feel really bad. I wouldn't want to do that to anybody. There was a human element involved in that decision."
Understandably, Levy took offense to the implication that Alvarez was making decisions regarding her career based on her mental well-being without consulting her about it. She took to Twitter to say,
I don't really want to revisit this but it feels a little funny, to have people choosing what the "best decision" is for me without asking what I think or want… Fede Alvarez is right, though. I would not want to do Don't Breathe 2… but not because I am too committed of an actor. lol
Maybe we should be asking why these films are made in such a way that their directors are averse to having committed actors participate? Anyway, good luck to the new cast! <3
Don't Breathe 2 was directed by Alvarez's writing and producing partner Rodo Sayagues, who wisely avoided this issue by following up Alvarez's comment with the simple answer,
I wasn't thinking about that when we came up with the story for this movie. We just thought, 'What is the sequel that we want to do?' We came up with the story, and the story didn't call for her character. So, that was it."
Well done, Sayagues. Here's hoping Alvarez and Levy will be able to talk things out and patch up their working relationship, because it would be great to see them make another movie together someday. Alvarez agrees,
Hopefully she's gonna want to make another one of these movies at some point. But I think we'll come up with something new."
In the meantime, Don't Breathe 2 is set
several years after the home invasion of the first movie, with the Blind Man living in quiet solace… until his past sins catch up to him.
The Blind Man has been hiding out for years in an isolated cabin and has taken in and raised a young girl orphaned from a house fire. Their quiet existence is shattered when a group of kidnappers show up and take the girl, forcing the Blind Man to leave his safe haven to save her.
Lang is joined in the cast by Adam Young, Bobby Schofield, and Rocci Williams.
Don't Breathe 2 has been rated R for "strong bloody violence, gruesome images, and language". The film is getting a theatrical release on August 13th.