Halle Barry is one of the most accomplished actresses working right now. Having won a Golden Globe, an Emmy as well as an Academy Award, she has proved that she is a great addition to any project she is in. Berry has also had recurring roles in the X-Men franchise and has made appearances in blockbusters such as John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Despite this impressive repertoire of films and accolades, the actress feared losing out on a film because of an accident during filming.
The Troubled Production Of Cloud Atlas
Based on a novel by David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas starred Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, and Hugo Weaving. They appeared in multiple roles in the metaphysical sci-fi film, as it dealt with the theme of reincarnation. The story travels centuries, chronicling multiple protagonists from the 19th Century to the year 2321, with each actor portraying a different role in each segment. The film was directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer.
The film faced several difficulties during its development, particularly due to a lack of funding. Warner Brothers, who had initially confirmed to finance the film pulled out citing budgetary issues. The Wachowskis and Tykwker then independently secured funding for the film, making Cloud Atlas one of the most expensive indie films to have been made, with an estimated budget of over $140 million.
The film was a massive failure upon release. It earned only $100 million at the box office, making it a box office bomb. The film also received polarizing reviews, with many criticizing it for a ‘messy screenplay’. The film has since gained cult status among cinephiles.
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Halle Berry Cried After She Broke Her Foot During Cloud Atlas
Actors Tom Hanks and Halle Berry were very excited to be a part of the film. Hanks especially was reported to have encouraged crew members to begin filming despite the funding being pulled. The film was in development for four years. Halle Berry and Tom Hanks were the first to accept the film when it was pitched to many stars such as Natalie Portman and James McAvoy. Hence, when Berry met with an accident while filming and broke her foot, she feared that her tenure in the film would be over.
However, she was met with an unexpected response to her situation. Talking about the incident to The Observer, she mentioned,
“The day after it happened, I heard, ‘Lana and Andy want to come see you,’ and I thought, oh God, they are surely going to give me my papers, send me packing and bring in somebody else.”
But surprisingly, Berry was assured that this would just be a ‘bump on the road’ and that she would still be playing the role. She said,
“I couldn’t believe it because so many actors, so much scheduling had gone on for years to make this all work, and they were willing to say, ‘We’ll throw it all in the wind, we want you to stay on this movie and we’re going to work it out.’”
Halle Berry also mentioned how she loved working on the film, calling it a classic ensemble, and that every actor had an important role to play in the vision of the directors. Berry and Hanks had also defended the film upon its release and were disappointed with its commercial failure.
Source: The Observer
