NEW YORK 鈥� Scott Rudin says he's 鈥渟tepping back鈥� from film and streaming projects, along with his Broadway productions, as the fallout continued for one of the entertainment industry's most powerful and prolific producers following renewed accusations of bullying.
In a statement Tuesday, Rudin said he would use the time to 鈥渨ork on personal issues I should have long ago.鈥� Rudin, who has many projects in various stages of development, didn't otherwise specify what 鈥渟tepping back鈥� entailed.
鈥淲hen I commented over the weekend, I was focused on Broadway reopening successfully and not wanting my previous
On Saturday, Rudin said his work on Broadway would for now be filled by others, including those already at work on those productions. His responses follow a story by The Hollywood Reporter on April 7 that detailed numerous instances of alleged harsh treatment of employees of his production company, including smashing a laptop screen on an assistant's hand and throwing objects including glass bowls, staplers and baked potatoes.
While well known for his allegedly verbally abusive treatment of a revolving door of assistants, the 62-year-old Rudin has long shepherded some of the most acclaimed films and Broadway shows to fruition. His productions have accumulated more than 150 Oscar nominations and some 17 Tonys.
That includes films like 鈥淣o Country for Old Men,鈥� 鈥淭he Social Network,鈥� 鈥淭he Truman Show,鈥� 鈥淔ences鈥� and 鈥淭he Grand Budapest Hotel.鈥� His Broadway hits include 鈥淭he Book of Mormon鈥� and 鈥淭o Kill a Mockingbird.鈥� In the past, he鈥檚 defended his workplace environment as part of a tough and competitive business.
Upcoming film projects for Rudin include Netflix's starry adaptation of the bestseller 鈥淭he Woman in the Window,鈥� A24's adaptation of the Tony-winning play 鈥淭he Humans" and Joel Coen's Shakespeare adaptation 鈥淭he Tragedy of Macbeth," with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand 鈥� also for A24 Current Broadway shows produced by Rudin include 鈥淭he Book of Mormon,鈥� 鈥淭o Kill a Mockingbird," 鈥淲est Side Story" and the upcoming revival of 鈥淭he Music Man."
A24 is ending its relationship with Rudin on future films, said a person familiar with the company鈥檚 plans who was granted anonymity because they weren鈥檛 authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The boutique studio and Rudin have collaborated on some of the most acclaimed films of recent years, including 鈥淟ady Bird,鈥� 鈥淯ncut Gems" and 鈥淓ighth Grade." In December, A24 and Rudin set plans to adapt the 2020 bestseller 鈥淪huggie Bain.鈥�
A spokesperson for A24 declined to comment.
While most of Rudin鈥檚 collaborators have been quiet following the article, several prominent
SAG-AFTRA, the Actors鈥� Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 earlier released a joint statement that didn't directly address the Rudin report but spoke out against toxic workplace environments.
鈥淓very worker deserves to do their job in an environment free of harassment of any kind, whether that harassment creates a toxic workplace or, certainly in the case of sexual harassment, when that
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
