TMZ reports that after she was dumped from a remake of “Bonnie and Clyde” earlier this month, Hilary Duff scored a generous severance package because of the terms of her contract. Her take? $100,000.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, the film’s production company cited scheduling difficulties as the reason for Duff’s termination. That statement conspicuously lacked any reference to Duff’s pregnancy, but obviously a baby bump might have spoiled the hard-edged appeal of historical gangster Bonnie Parker. Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl) was also cut recently from his role as Clyde, apparently due to scheduling conflicts, leaving the film’s two lead roles unfilled.
“While production has been pushed several times due to financial, scheduling and other factors such as tornadoes devastating some of our locations, we are currently gearing up to start production later this year,” read the statement to EW. “Unfortunately this happens all the time in the world of filmmaking.”
Amanda Seyfried was considered for the Bonnie role, but she has reportedly turned the offer down.
Meanwhile, Duff has been keeping her head low. “I dont wanna give them any more press than they’ve already gotten off me … I think [my] baby is a little bit more exciting,” she told TMZ.
The decision to find another lead may not have disappointed everyone awaiting the gangster flick remake. Faye Dunaway, the original Bonnie, reportedly lamented: “Couldn’t they at least cast a real actress?”
This story was edited after publication.