Thandiwe Newton is “likely heading to rehab,” just days after bowing out of Magic Mike’s Last Dance, it has been reported. The 49-year-old was alleged to have left film staffers concerned about her behavior during the taping of recently shot scenes in London.
According to Page Six, things were said to have been looking pretty bad for the actress, as it was claimed that her agent had to fly out from Los Angeles in order to calm things down. But by Tuesday, The Pursuit of Happyness star hopped back on a plane to the US, where she’s now hoping to check into a rehab facility, a source told the publication.
“Thandiwe had been acting strange on set, she has been very highly strung. Her apparent breakdown caused so much disruption, it became clear she couldn’t play the role,” the insider gushed. “There is a lot going on in her personal life, she and her husband have separated. She seemed so stressed, she even brought her two pet rabbits to her hotel for emotional support.”
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As previously mentioned, Thandiwe is believed to have struggled with emotional issues stemming from her family problems since parting ways with her husband Ol Parker, to whom she has been married to for a whopping 24 years. The couple also shares three children: Ripley, 21, Nico, 17, and Booker, 8.
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Thandiwe Newton’s Alleged Feud With Channing Tatum
The Sun initially reported that Thandiwe’s exit from the third installment of the raunchy franchise was caused by a row she had with lead star Channing Tatum after getting into a debate with him about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars last month.
It wasn’t long after their argument that things escalated, prompting Channing to allegedly tell production that he would not continue working with Thandiwe before speeding off in his car.
“People looked at each other and thought, ‘Wait, we’re supposed to be filming’,” the source explained. “After the row he just went, ‘I am not working with her anymore’. Him being a producer, it’s his movie, so she’s off the movie.
“She’s gone. For the last 11 days, everything we’ve shot has to be reshot with a new cast member.”
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Salma Hayek Replaces Thandiwe Newton’s Role On ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’
The two-time Emmy winner’s departure was announced shortly after, with an official announcement later revealing that Salma Hayek would stand in as her replacement.
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In a statement made by her rep, an incident between her and Channing supposedly never took place, and Thandiwe was exiting the project simply for personal reasons.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance will see the return of Channing’s character Mike Lane, while Steven Soderbergh, who apparently took no sides in the alleged on-set feud, will be returning as the director. He had previously helmed the same position for the film movie but did not have any involvement in putting together the second instalment.