Ray Fisher, the actor behind Cyborg inJustice League, has finallyrevealed details behind allegations made against Joss Whedonand Warner Bros. executives. Fisher, for nearly a year, has accused Whedon and executives at the studio, such as Geoff Johns, of inappropriate behavior during reshoots on the movie that took place following original director Zack Snyder’s departure. In the wake of these details, #IStandWithRayFisher has begun trending on Twitter.
Fans have rallied on social media in support of Ray Fisher following awide-ranging report that was recently released. Fisher is still not willing to name names, as he doesn’t want to get anyone fired, but the actor did shed a lot of light on his account of the reshoots. This, in turn, prompted the hashtag to trend. One Twitter user, going under the name sabrina, said the following in support of the Cyborg actor.
“I just want to take a minute to say thatRay Fisheris one of the strongest and bravest and purest people ever, a true hero on and off screen to stand up for himself and anyone else affected. He deserves the whole world. We are with you! #IStandWithRayFisher.”
Up to this point, much of Ray Fisher’s allegations had been vague. Even following an internal investigation conducted by Warner Bros., the specifics of Fisher’s issues were largely unknown. But in this interview, the actor explained that executives were trying to lighten the tone ofJustice Leagueby bringing Joss Whedon in and they didn’t want “an angry Black man” at the center of the movie. Geoff Johns also requested that Fisher play the character less like Frankenstein and more like Quasimodo. This, after much of the character’s backstory was axed in the theatrical version. A representative forGeoff Johnssaid this in response.
“Geoff gave a note using a fictional character as an example of a sympathetic man who is unhappy and has an inclination to hide from the world, but one whom the audience roots for because he has a courageous heart.”
There were also issues over the studio wanting Ray Fisher to say the line “booyah,” which became associated with Cyborg thanks to the popularTeen Titansanimated series. Fisher explained that “It was like he was assuming how Black people would respond rather than taking the advice from the only Black person” who had any say in the project. The line wasn’t inZack Snyder’s Justice League
Things ultimately escalated to a meeting with Geoff Johns and others at the DC offices in Burbank, California. As Fisher recalls, “He said, ‘I consider us to be friends,’ which he knew we were not, ‘and I just don’t want you to make a bad name for yourself in the business.'” Fisher, it is said, took that as a threat. A rep for Johns says he never made a threat but did express that creative differences typically are not brought to the head of a studio by an actor’s agent.
Another major issue is Cyborg being axed fromThe Flashsolo movie. Ray Fisher had been slated to appear in the movie, which is now in production. But Warner Bros. tried to frame the actor’s two-week shoot as a “cameo.” This, in turn, meant that Fisher would only have been paid a fraction of what he would have otherwise. Many fans took issue with this and expressed a desire to see Fisher return to the role. For now at least, it seems Fisher’s time in the DCEU is done. But he has garnered a great deal of support from fans. This news comes to us viaThe Hollywood Reporter.
