Sienna Miller, who plays the girlfriend of lead character James "Whitey" Bulger's in the upcoming biopic "Black Mass", has been cut from the film. With barely two weeks before the initial screening, the director of the movie confirmed this news Wednesday.
The 33 year old actress was cast as Catherine Greig, opposite Johnny Depp, who plays the gangster Bulger. Greig helped Bulger escape from authorities for 16 years. Director Scott Cooper told The Boston Globe that Sienna Miller was "fantastic" in her role. However, during the editing process, Cooper saw that Bulger's years as a fugitive after leaving Boston was "less dramatic" compared to his life events prior to that. Ultimately, her character was omitted in the film due to the "narrative choices" Cooper decided to make for it to be a stronger film.
According to Vanity Fair, Miller, a British actress, has been tireless in her character building, most especially in correcting and perfecting a Boston accent, which is native to Greig. She was part of a star studded cast: Johnny Depp, Kevin Bacon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, and Dakota Johnson. Fifty Shades of Grey star Johnson plays Lindsey Cyr, is Bulger's love interest for 12 years during his life in Boston.
According to Boston Magazine, Black Mass will be released globally on Sept. 18, following its private screening in Brookline at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Aside from that, it is part of the Special Presentation in Toronto International Film Festival 2015 and the Venice Film Festival in its "Fuori Concorso" section.
"Black Mass" is an adaptation of the bestselling book of the same name written by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill. At 84, Bulger was found guilty in 11 of 19 killings, along with other crimes. A sentence of two consecutive life terms plus five years was handed down to Bulger, 84, in November 2013.
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