Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier offered an emotional tribute to late stage and screen icon Patrick Stewart during a 10th-anniversary screening of the 2015 thriller “Green Room” on Friday in Los Angeles, crediting the actor with personally preventing the film from collapsing just before production fell apart.
Stewart died at age 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak announced. News organizations differed slightly on the exact timing of his death; The Hollywood Reporter and CNET reported Stewart died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, while Variety reported his death occurred Thursday, citing Saulnier’s on-stage remarks Friday stating the actor had died “yesterday.” A statement published on Stewart’s Instagram account also confirmed his death following a brief struggle with both neurological conditions, according to Variety.
Stepping in at the eleventh hour
Addressing moviegoers before the anniversary screening, Saulnier explained that the A24 production was on the brink of disaster a decade ago. Crew members were actively building sets while running out of time, yet the production had not cast Darcy Banker, the menacing skinhead leader at the center of the story.
“We’re fucked, and we were close to shutting down,” Saulnier told the audience, as reported by Deadline and Variety. He added that the production stood “at the point of no return” when Stewart unexpectedly indicated he was interested in taking on the part.
Saulnier recalled leaving the stage fearing the team would have to dismantle the sets and halt the entire project. Instead, within roughly a week, the director was speaking directly with Stewart over the phone. Stewart agreed to take the role, which promptly greenlit the movie and allowed filming to proceed.
“Patrick Stewart is why I still can make movies,” Saulnier said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “He saved the day.”
Warmth on set and fan devotion
Saulnier remembered Stewart as a generous collaborator and a gentleman who led the production with kindness. During filming, Stewart approached the director with a suggestion to insert an expletive into a specific camera tracking shot. Once Stewart explained he simply wanted to utter the word, Saulnier granted permission, later noting that the moment showed how deeply the veteran performer understood the project’s tone and vision.
Saulnier also told the screening audience that Stewart would always remind audiences regarding his villainous character, “Whatever you do, don’t root for the Nazis,” Deadline reported.
Stewart, a three-time Golden Globe nominee, achieved worldwide renown portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard across the “Star Trek” franchise and Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” films. That enduring popularity was reflected in conventions worldwide, where admirers frequently mobbed Picard cosplayers with affectionate greetings and reverence, CNET reported.
Following the announcement of Stewart’s death, figures across Hollywood offered public tributes, including Ian McKellen, William Shatner, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kevin Feige, Seth MacFarlane, Minnie Driver, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Funeral arrangements and additional memorial plans have not yet been announced.
