Hugo Speer removed from Disney+ Full Monty reboot
James R | On 03, Jul 2022
Hugo Speer has been removed from the upcoming reboot of The Full Monty, after allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Announced earlier this year, the eight-part series brings together the original band of brothers from the hit film, almost 25 years after its BAFTA-winning success. It picks up as the characters navigate the post-industrial city of Sheffield and society’s crumbling healthcare, education and employment sectors.
The original lead cast reprising their roles include Robert Carlyle (“Trainspotting”, “Once Upon A Time”) as Gaz, Mark Addy (“Game of Thrones”, “A Knight’s Tale”) as Dave, Lesley Sharp (“Before We Die”, “Scott and Bailey”) as Jean, Paul Barber (“The Dumping Ground”, “Gloves Off”) as Horse, Steve Huison (“The Royle Family”, “The Navigators”) as Lomper, Wim Snape (“The Beaker Girls”, “Gentleman Jack”) as Nathan and Tom Wilkinson (“Batman Begins”, “Michael Clayton”) as Gerald.
Also reuniting behind the scenes are the original film’s screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and producer Uberto Pasolini (“Nowhere Special”).
Now, however, one of the group will not be joining the reunion: Hugo Speer, who was set to reprise his role of Guy. The actor, who has also appeared in Britannia and Marcella, has been fired from the project.
Disney+ said in a statement that it had been “made aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Hugo Speer on the set of a commissioned production”.
“As is policy, an investigation was launched. Upon its completion, the decision was made to terminate his contract, with immediate effect,” added the statement.
There is no word yet on whether Speer will be replaced in the role of Guy or the character will be written out entirely. A spokesperson for Speer has told Deadline that he denies the allegations and will challenge them.
The Full Monty cast reunite for Disney+ series
29th March 2022
Disney+ is doing its very own Full Monty with a new series bringing the cast of the hit British film back together again.
Almost 25 years on from the BAFTA-winning film, the limited series will follow the original band of brothers as they navigate the post-industrial city of Sheffield and society’s crumbling healthcare, education and employment sectors. The series will explore the brighter, sillier and more humane way forward where communal effort can still triumph over adversity.
The original lead cast reprising their roles include Robert Carlyle (“Trainspotting”, “Once Upon A Time”) as Gaz, Mark Addy (“Game of Thrones”, “A Knight’s Tale”) as Dave, Lesley Sharp (“Before We Die”, “Scott and Bailey”) as Jean, Hugo Speer (“Britannia”, “Shadow and Bone”) as Guy, Paul Barber (“The Dumping Ground”, “Gloves Off”) as Horse, Steve Huison (“The Royle Family”, “The Navigators”) as Lomper, Wim Snape (“The Beaker Girls”, “Gentleman Jack”) as Nathan and Tom Wilkinson (“Batman Begins”, “Michael Clayton”) as Gerald. A celebration of working-class heroes in the North of England, the series will also introduce a whole new cast of children and grandchildren of the returning characters.
The eight-part comedy drama also reunites the original film’s screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and producer Uberto Pasolini (“Nowhere Special”), co-commissioned by Disney+ and FX.
Beaufoy comments: “We’re chuffed to bits to get all the Monty Men back together again – now with a chaotic entourage of children, grandchildren, pets and assorted hangers-on – to see what life in Sheffield is like 25 years on.”
Lee Mason, Director of Scripted Content EMEA at Disney, adds: “25 years ago Simon introduced us to a group of funny, fearless and resilient unemployed working-class men from Sheffield and the world fell in love with them. We’re delighted to reunite the original cast for this brand-new series on Disney+ to catch up with these iconic characters and what they’ve been up to since we last saw them on stage in all their glory, and we can’t wait to introduce a host of exciting new faces and characters.”
The series is created, written and executive produced by Simon Beaufoy, executive produced by Uberto Pasolini, directed by Andrew Chaplin (“Alma’s Not Normal”) and Catherine Morshead (“No Offence”), co-written by Alice Nutter with Simon Lewis as Series Producer. The series was developed by Searchlight Television and FX.
Filming is already underway in Sheffield and Manchester.