As Armie Hammer’s New Movie Gets Banned in Germany, Director Uwe Boll Explains Why He Cast the "Canceled" Actor

Armie Hammer has spent the last several years largely absent from Hollywood after his career was derailed by controversy in 2021. Now, the actor is attempting a return to the screen with Citizen Vigilante, a new action thriller from filmmaker Uwe Boll.

But as the movie heads toward release, it’s already generating headlines for more than just Hammer’s involvement. The film has been banned in Germany, and amid the controversy, Boll is opening up about why he chose to cast Hammer in the first place.

Hammer’s public downfall began when leaked direct messages surfaced online containing sexual content and references to cannibalistic fantasies.

The situation escalated when multiple women accused the actor of sexual assault and emotional abuse. While the allegations sparked intense public scrutiny, Hammer was never formally charged with any crimes.

The fallout was swift. He lost representation from WME and exited several high-profile projects, including Jennifer Lopez’s Shotgun Wedding, the spy thriller Billion Dollar Spy, and Paramount+’s The Offer.

Before that, Hammer had built a strong résumé with acclaimed films such as Call Me by Your Name, Nocturnal Animals, and The Birth of a Nation.

Now Boll is giving him another shot with Citizen Vigilante, a film centered on a man who decides to take justice into his own hands. Speaking with The Telegraph UK, the director made it clear that his reasoning for casting Hammer was simple:

“I cast Armie Hammer in the lead because he’s a great actor, and also because he was cancelled and wanted to work.”

Boll went on to address the allegations surrounding Hammer and explained why he felt comfortable putting the actor in the lead role:

“He wasn’t charged with anything, there was no lawsuit. He was just a guy who was famous and f*cking around. He’s a handsome, charismatic guy, who could be James Bond. In fact, he’d be perfect for the part.”

That support comes as Citizen Vigilante faces its own controversy. According to reports, the film has been blocked from release in Germany due to its extreme violence.

The Telegraph also notes that authorities took issue with what has been described as an anti-migrant message within the story, as crimes committed by immigrants reportedly play a significant role in the plot.

For anyone familiar with Boll’s career, controversy isn’t exactly new territory. The director has built a reputation for making provocative films and following his own creative instincts regardless of outside criticism.

Whether audiences embrace or reject his work, Boll has consistently shown little interest in playing by Hollywood’s rules.

That mindset extends beyond Hammer. During the same interview, Boll suggested there are other controversial actors he believes deserve another chance, specifically mentioning Oscar winner Kevin Spacey:

“Take Kevin Spacey, for instance. One of the best actors working today. I’d love to cast him in a strong male lead in one of my pictures, but by doing so, I can guarantee that the film would not get an American distributor. To me, that’s unfair.

“He won all the lawsuits and legal cases, and now he’s stuck in these very cheap exotic movies he’s making now. I think he should come back and get another shot.”

Meanwhile, Hammer himself has spoken publicly in recent years about the scandal that reshaped his life. The actor has surprisingly said he feels grateful for how events unfolded, explaining that before everything happened he was in a place where he “didn’t feel good” or “satisfied.”

He now says he’s reached a point where he can provide himself with the “self-validation” he previously lacked.

For Hammer, Citizen Vigilante represents one of the biggest professional opportunities he’s had since the controversy erupted. There’s also an interesting bit of irony attached to the project.

During its development, the film carried the title The Dark Knight, and it arrives years after Hammer was once linked to playing Batman on the big screen.

Of course, the vigilante Hammer plays here is a far cry from Gotham’s famous protector. Still, the project serves as an unusual full-circle moment in the actor’s career, and it’s clear Boll believes his leading man delivered exactly what the movie needed.

Whether audiences embrace Hammer’s return remains to be seen. Citizen Vigilante arrives in select theaters and on digital platforms on June 19.