8 Infamous On-Set Catfights That Prove Paul Feig Wrong

By Vivian Kane | Lists | June 5, 2016 |

By Vivian Kane | Lists | June 5, 2016 |

Paul Feig has a long history of kicking ass with female-driven movies. But, not surprisingly, he also has a long history of people not understanding why he’s drawn to that sort of material. This weekend, Feig told an anecdote about a fellow male producer who, years ago, heard he was taking on a movie with a female cast and told him (in Feig’s words), “Oh boy, get ready. It’s going to be tough, you’re going to have catfights.” Feig’s response was a super cool “Who the fuck are you?” He went on to say that working with a group of women on a film was the best experience of his career.

The thing is— and I hate to quibble with Paul Feig, whose work I adore— that other producer was right! It’s been proven time and time again that when you get more than one person of the same gender (especially those temperamental actors and artists) together on a project, there’s going to be some serious drama. I hate to admit it, but it’s true. Just take a look at these examples that prove that producer’s point.

(Oh! One quick note: while I know the term “catfight” is usually used to describe women, most people seem to figure out around the age of 5 or so that not all dogs are boys and not all cats are girls, so that doesn’t actually make a lot of sense, does it? So let’s expand that definition to include any cat-on-cat rage, can we?)

George Clooney & David O. Russell

David O. Russell may have one of the worst onset reputations of anyone working today. Clooney reportedly took it upon himself to defend the crew and other actors from Russell’s abuse while shooting Three Kings. By Clooney’s account, Russell headbutted him, driving Clooney to put his director in a headlock. Russell says Clooney has exaggerated the incidents, calling him a “lying-ass bitch.”

Meee-ow!

Christian Bale & That D.P.

You may not know Shane Hurlbut’s name, but you know what it sounds like when Christian Bale is screaming at him.

Harrison Ford & Ridley Scott

Ford and Scott reportedly had a major feud over whether or not Ford’s character in Blade Runner was a Replicant. These dudes and their opinions, am I right?

Edward Norton & Tony Kaye

Director Tony Kaye hated Edward norton so much he had his own name taken off of American History X, so as not to be associated with the actor. Dramatic, much?

Bruce Willis & Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith called Willis “the unhappiest, most bitter, and meanest emo bitch” he’s ever worked with, and said the process of making Cop Out with him was “soul crushing.” Willis called Smith a “whiner.” No wonder everyone hates working with men!

Wesley Snipes & Literally Everyone

From the sound of it, Wesley Snipes tried to fight pretty much everyone on the set of Blade: Trinity. He also “would only communicate with the director through Post-it notes. And he would sign each Post-it note “From Blade.” Classic diva stuff.

Tom Sizemore & Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer reportedly threw a fit when he found out Sizemore’s elliptical machine had been shipped to Australia to the set of Red Planet, on production’s dime. He yelled at Sizemore that he was making eight million dollars more than him, and Sizemore responded by throwing a 50-pund weight at Kilmer’s head.

You think if they keep fighting long enough, maybe they’ll start making out?

R2-D2 & C-3PO

Even robots can’t control their drama. Or at least, the men in the suits (Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels, respectively) can’t.

Baker once said of Daniels: “He’s been such an awkward person over the years. If he just calmed down and socialised with everyone, we could make a fortune touring around making personal appearances. I’ve asked him four times now but, the last time, he looked down his nose at me like I was a piece of sh*t. The last time I spoke to him was in Boston and he was in front of me. I said ‘Did you have a nice weekend Tony?’ He said ‘I’m having a conversation,’ and walked away. He wasn’t talking to anybody. I could have hit him.”

And Daniels said of Baker, “”I never saw him. I mean, R2-D2 doesn’t even speak. He might as well be a bucket.”

Ouch! Kitten’s got claws!