Dieter Laser had been speaking with effusive praise about the script but once he signed on the dotted line, things started to turn sour and the actor (a self-described "method actor", a terrifying prospect for anyone familiar with his work) began demanding script chances to better suit his vision.
Tom Six was the first to comment on the situation, as he took to Twitter to complain.
Following this tweet, Six's sister, Ilona, speaking on behalf of their production company, issued this press release to shed further light on the situation:
Six Entertainment Company Statement,
Tom Six’s company will sue Dieter Laser.Because of the success of The Human Centipede, it seems that Mr Dieter Laser’s ego has grown to laughably big proportions. First signing the contract and rating the THC3 script as fantastic ,and then demanding his own unacceptable script changes, and now refusing to play the part only seven weeks prior to shooting. Six Entertainment Company will start legal action against Dieter Laser. Tom Six says not to worry – principal photography will be postponed and will take place later this year.
Best Regards,
Ilona Six
Film Producer
Laser promptly responded with his own press release:
It’s very simple: I loved the story when it was told, got the contract and the promise to have the script in 4 to 6 weeks. When it arrived – half a year later and only after the official announcement – I didn’t like the realization at all, couldn’t identify with the character the way it was written and developed immediately and enthusiastically in a day and night marathon a version full of concrete and practical suggestions which would enable me to play the lead full throttle – same procedure as with Dr. Heiter – but this time it also would have had some unavoidable effects to the dramatic structure. That was too much for Tom and since he couldn’t live with my suggestions and I as a method actor couldn’t identify with his version, I told him that I couldn’t see any other way than that he would have to “change horses”. That’s it.
Dieter Laser
Mr. Laser would have done well to check out Six's previous film, for a better idea of just how much he has devolved as a writer, then maybe he would have given some pause before signing he contract in the first place.
Some have posited that this is just a childish publicity stunt and, in terms of desperate attention grabs, I wouldn't put it passed Tom Six to try something ridiculous. This particular ploy? It doesn't make a lot of sense to create a publicity stunt that paints both sides as stubborn, egotistical idiots.
Then again, maybe this is actually part of the story itself? Is The Human Centipede 3 about Tom Six attempting to make the ultimate Human Centipede movie and taking it to the next level, involving difficult actors as part of his creation? The second movie was obnoxiously meta and things like this only raise more flags that the third movie will be twice as meta. Hopefully there's some actual content to go with this cutesy concept.
Source: Twitter
