A storm has erupted over Armie Hammer's new film 'Citizen Vigilante', with German authorities knocking it off the shelves like a red card for a bad foul. Director Uwe Boll is incensed, claiming the country's rating system has effectively censored the film due to concerns that it might incite violence against migrants.
Boll fired back at The Daily Telegraph, accusing the decision of being a deliberate attempt to silence free speech. He explained that efforts to challenge the ruling through legal channels were blocked by a lawyer who revealed the film was deemed to incite violence against migrant communities – effectively making it impossible for German audiences to get their hands on the film.
'Citizen Vigilante' sees Hammer take on the lead role as an American vigilante targeting both migrants and corrupt officials. Boll insists that the narrative is inspired by a real-life case in Hamburg, where teenagers gang-raped a 14-year-old girl before receiving lenient sentences. The director also took the opportunity to express his views on what he sees as a restrictive climate for questioning established narratives – one where extremism accusations can be levelled against anyone daring to challenge the status quo.
Hammmer's casting in 'Citizen Vigilante' marks a significant comeback for the actor, who faced a barrage of allegations surrounding sexual assault in 2021. Hammer vehemently denied all claims and was subsequently cleared by an investigation, but the controversy led to him being dropped by his agency and axed from several projects – including 'Shotgun Wedding', which re-shot his scenes with Will Arnett instead.
This censorship blow has sparked heated debates about artistic freedom and the responsibilities of rating bodies. While the film's UK availability remains up in the air, it's clear that this controversy will set off a chain reaction across European cinema – igniting discussions about where to draw the line when tackling sensitive themes.