"Gangster Squad" Director Weighs In On Cutting Shooting Scene After The Aurora, Colorado Theater Massacre

The sequence hit a little too close to home.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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As the nation begins to heal after the recent shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, director Ruben Fleischer reflected on Warner Brothers’ decision to delay and re-shoot scenes from his upcoming movie Gangster Squad after this summer’s theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado. Apparently there was supposed to be a scene in the movie that was eerily similar to the real-life events, which spurred the studio and filmmaker to delay the movie’s release and film a new sequence in its place.

“The Aurora shooting was an unspeakable tragedy, and out of respect for the families of the victims, we felt it necessary to reshoot that sequence, and I'm proud of the fact that we did,” Fleischer said during a Gangster Squad press conference in L.A (courtesy of The Playlist). “I think that we didn't compromise the film or our intent, and I think the [newly shot] Chinatown sequence is really well done, and that we should all respect the tragedy and not draw associations to our film.”

Josh Brolin, one of the stars of the film, then chimed in and said, "I truly believe this, as opposed to bullshitting you that I have to say this, I think it's a better sequence than what was there in the beginning.” He continued, “Out of respect for the families, I understand why Warner Bros. made the decision. The fact that that happened and that exists in the movie, it's just too similar. So I agreed with the choice. Not everybody agreed, but I totally agreed with the choice.”

Don’t expect the scene to be included as a deleted scene on the Blu-ray/DVD of the movie, either. Fleischer said, "You don't want it out there if it is going to be hurtful to people.”

Do you think the right decision was made to re-shoot parts of Gangster Squad, or did the studio and filmmakers overreact? Let us know what you think.

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[via The Playlist]

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