Back in Action, a Netflix movie starring Jamie Foxx, and poised to be Cameron Diaz‘s first in nearly a decade, has encountered a barrage of setbacks throughout its development. The London production initially ran into several problems stemming from Foxx. Several people in key roles within the production were reportedly fired. The Oscar-winner was also reportedly the victim of a £33,000 (about $40,000) scam that put the project on hold. As a result, things had deteriorated to the point that Diaz was reportedly considering retiring again. Foxx’s recent hospitalization also left Back In Action with his eight unfinished shooting days in the wake of his medical emergency, prompting the use of a body double to complete filming.
Netflix has not released a plot synopsis for Back in Action, so it is unclear what it is about. Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) directed the movie, and Brendan O’Brien wrote the screenplay. Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, and Jamie Demetriou also star in the film. Production began in December 2022 in London. Production companies include Exhibit A, Chernin Entertainment, and Good One Productions. It’s uncertain what state the film will be in when it releases, but it has undoubtedly received plenty of press due to the drama behind the scenes.
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Four Staff Firings
Sources told The Sun that Back In Action’s production was halted after four staffers were fired. “There have been some issues on set and Jamie has had a major meltdown over it all,” one source said. A unit director, an assistant director, an executive producer, and Foxx’s driver were all fired. The source also stated that other crew members were “totally fed up” with Foxx and that he had “become pretty unpopular” as a result.
Plotted Theft
An investigation into an alleged plot to steal about $40,000 from Foxx also led to one staffer being fired, The Sun reported. Producers contacted police after learning a staffer may have been involved in the scam. “It sounds as though they tried to offer up a Rolex watch as part of the deal but now there’s an investigation into everything going on. People will be glad when this thing finally wraps,” a source told the outlet.
Re-retirement
Back in Action would be Cameron Diaz’s first movie since the 2014 remake of Annie, which also starred Foxx. The actress reportedly reconsidered her decision to return in light of the ensuing drama. According to the source, “She hates drama and confrontation. This is why she retired in the first place.” However, Daily Mail‘s sources say Diaz’s reported plan to re-retire has more to do with the fact that she misses life at home than anything else.
“These back-to-back 10-hour workdays have been a lot on her and she hates being away from (her daughter) Raddix,” the outlet’s source said. “Cameron loves being a mom more than anything in the world.”The source added, “‘Benji (Madden, her husband,) is supportive of everything that Cameron does, but it has been a lot on him. Although she has gotten to see her family while shooting the film, it is just not the same.”
Medical Emergency
Foxx’s daughter, Corinne Foxx, revealed on April 12 that Foxx had been hospitalized in Atlanta for three weeks due to an undisclosed “medical complication.” She posted the news on social media, writing, “We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery.”
Days after Foxx’s daughter, Corinne Foxx, announced her father’s health scare, an insider told CNN that doctors were still “running tests and still trying to figure out what exactly happened.” Prior to his hospitalization, Foxx was filming Back in Action in Atlanta, Georgia. Foxx’s medical incident did not occur on set, and the actor was not transported to the hospital by an emergency vehicle, PEOPLE later confirmed.
On Wednesday, Foxx posted a text message on his Instagram account saying, “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.” In addition, he added a heart, fox, and prayer emoji. Foxx also shared an Instagram story on Wednesday thanking Nick Cannon for filling in for him as Beat Shazam’s guest host during the sixth season.
Bomb found on set
According to The Sun, in the wake of Foxx’s hospitalization,the film still has a pair of stunts to film, with one that was supposed to have an explosion rigged to go off during an action scene. However, an explosive from World War II was discovered under the water while the production was preparing for the stunt.
“The production expected the scene to go off with a bang – but nobody could have predicted it would all be derailed by a bomb. The stunt was booked to take place last month at the dock. A 24-meter barrier was being erected into the river, where the explosion would take place,” a source explained to the outlet. “But it was during the building of the set that they believed they found what they thought to be an unexploded bomb in the water.”
“Safety was the main priority, so after speaking with the police and relevant authorities the whole thing was cancelled,” the source continued. “Naturally, that part of the river is never normally disturbed, so it’s been left as it is.” It caused a significant detriment to the production, forcing both stunts to be shot with green screens.
“The cancellation was a massive blow to the film, which has already experienced a few issues,” the source says. “It cost a huge amount of money and was a massive headache for everyone involved.”
Body double
With Foxx, 55, out of commission, there were still eight days left of shooting for the actor. Diaz returned to the set of Back in Action the following week to resume filming with Foxx’s body double. Page Six obtained photos showing the “Charlie’s Angels” star wearing sweats, glasses, and wavy hair as she embraced co-star McKenna Roberts. Other pictures showcase Diaz, 50, Roberts, and the body double walking through what appears to be a nightclub called The Level before exiting the club with worried looks as they emerged.
