Bryan Singer Directed a Secret Film Starring Jon Voight About Israeli Occupation of Lebanon

After nearly a decade away from Hollywood, Bryan Singer is looking to make a comeback with a new film that’s already sparking controversy. The X-Men and Superman Returns director, who hasn’t worked in the industry since being fired from Bohemian Rhapsody in 2017, has quietly completed a movie starring Oscar-winner Jon Voight.

The untitled project, which was shot in Greece in 2023, is described as a period drama about the relationship between a father and son. Variety reports that Israeli filmmaker Yariv Horovoitz (Rock the Kasbah) is involved in the production.

According to one insider who has seen the finished film, it’s “a really well made film with awards-season potential”, but they also warned that “it’s going to be a huge hotbed of controversy” because of its subject matter.

The story is set in the late 1970s or early 1980s during Israel’s occupation of Lebanon. “It makes Israel look really bad and could be polarizing,” the source added. Another person familiar with the project said the central story follows an architect on a journey for redemption.

Singer has a complicated history with Hollywood. His movies have grossed billions for studios like 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., and films such as The Usual Suspects brought home Academy Awards for Kevin Spacey and Christopher McQuarrie.

Despite his success, Singer has been hit with sexual misconduct allegations for decades, starting with a 1997 civil lawsuit tied to Apt Pupil. More accusations surfaced over the years, culminating in a 2019 exposé from The Atlantic that outlined claims of misconduct involving minors. Singer has repeatedly denied all allegations, stating that he has never had sex with or a preference for underage boys.

His career unraveled in the wake of those reports. Fox fired him from Bohemian Rhapsody mid-production, citing absences and on-set chaos. Even before that, similar behavior had been reported during his time on the X-Men films. An attempt to reboot Red Sonja with Millennium Films collapsed when the studio couldn’t secure a domestic distributor despite CEO Avi Lerner’s initial support.

Now, Singer’s new film could mark his return to the spotlight. One source has suggested that a domestic distribution deal is already in the works, though it’s unclear if international rights will be shopped at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival market.

Whether this project will reignite Singer’s career or spark fresh backlash remains to be seen, but the combination of a politically charged story, a Hollywood comeback, and Jon Voight in the mix makes this a interesting project.