Eva Green’s troubled movie A Patriot was in the hands of “cowboy” producers who wanted to recycle props and sets from a little-known TV show, a production designer has told the High Court.
The French actress is locked in a legal battle over the 2019 collapse of the sci-fi project, fighting claims she acted “like a diva” and walked out.
In text messages aired in the High Court, Green dubbed producer Jake Seal “evil” and “pure vomit” and complained over making the film at his Black Hangar studio in Hampshire.
Green was due to star in A Patriot with Charles Dance, but the project was shelved amid budget difficulties and a falling-out. Damien Creagh, a production designer, told the court he was promised an art budget of £805,000 and had been expecting to film in Ireland.
When production was shifted to the aircraft hangar in Hampshire, he found there was no permanent sound-proofing in the studio. “I said nothing at the time, but I was thinking ‘what kind of cowboys are these?’,” said Mr Creagh. He said he then learned of the idea of using second-hand scenery from Black Hangar’s recent production of Salvage Marines, a six-part TV show.
“I was told several times that there were scenery pieces from Salvage Marines still around the studio that I would be free to use,” said Mr Creagh.
The production designer of 20 years said he was initially impressed by Mr Seal’s IMDb profile which states he is “known for Quantum of Solace”, only to discover he had a small role as a barman in the Bond film. Mr Creagh called the production a “fiasco”.
Mr Seal defended Black Hangar’s facilities which were used for Star Wars Rogue One, Dumbo — a film in which Green starred — and said it was ideal for A Patriot with a one-mile track for exterior stunts.
Green is suing for her £830,000 fee, while she faces a counter claim for damages, alleging she deliberately sabotaged the film.
All evidence has been heard and Mr Justice Michael Green will deliver his verdict later.
