exec: ‘Producing a movie with Lindsay Lohan is not for the faint of heart’
File this under under “things we already assumed”: Larry Thompson, executive producer of Lifetime original movie “Liz & Dick” told reporter on a conference call today that, “producing a movie with Lindsay Lohan is not for the faint of heart,” and he turned “50 shades of white” during production.
Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor on "Liz & Dick" (Richard McLaren - Lifetime) Thompson was on the phone plugging with the debut of the film, premiering Nov. 25, starring Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor and Grant Bowler as her husband Richard Burton (whom she divorced twice).
Lohan, as you may remember, delayed production a mere four days into filming after getting in a car accident — when she wasn’t supposed to be driving — and showed up hours late on set. A week later, paramedics responded to a 911 call after the actress was found unconscious in her hotel room. (Her rep later said she was exhausted and just taking a nap.)
Anyway, Thompson reiterated repeatedly during the call that there were inherent “risks” with hiring Lohan to do the movie, but her performance as Liz Taylor was worth the reward.
“I’ve certainly worked with actresses whose behavior during production was less problematic than Lindsay,” Thompson said. “But I can say that she truly has been ... the perfect person to play Elizabeth Taylor, and that her performance is truly riveting.”
Thompson shared that when he decided to hire Lohan, there were serious challenges due to her probation, and there wound up being pages of “what if” clauses.
“She might be the most insured actress who ever walked on a sound stage,” Thompson said, adding that his production company tried to insure themselves aganist things that could — and, like the car accident, did — happen.
A huge fan of Liz Taylor — his mother was obsessed with her, and he named his own daughter after the actress — Thompson continually gushed about Lohan embracing the role, being a somewhat kindred spirit with Taylor.
Thompson also speculated about why people are so fascinated by trainwreck celebrities, a la Lohan and Taylor.
“When you have a reckless and wanton disregard for the norm, while people themselves would not want to live that life, they find it fascinating to watch,” he said. [Lohan] literally at this time in her life knows no boundaries. And that becomes dangerous, that becomes exciting.”
Cancel