Green Room director says Patrick Stewart 'swooped down' to save the movie

Jeremy Saulnier, writer and director of the 2015 film 'Green Room', delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Patrick Stewart during a 10th-anniversary screening in Los Angeles on Friday. According to Variety, Saulnier said the movie was "close to shutting down" before Stewart got involved.

Saulnier explained that the production was in deep trouble. Sets were built, but they hadn't cast anyone to play Darcy Banker, the skinhead leader. Per Saulnier, "We're fucked, and we were close to shutting down." He was considering breaking down the sets and shutting the whole movie down.

That's when, out of the blue, Patrick Stewart expressed interest in the project. Saulnier said, per The Hollywood Reporter, that Stewart "just swooped down, nosedived into our cruddy ass movie and saved us, and said yes." With Stewart attached, the movie was instantly greenlit and production moved forward.

Saulnier also fondly remembered Stewart as a "fucking sweetheart" and "true gentleman" on set. He shared a story about Stewart requesting to add a single word to a scene. Stewart asked, "Well, during this one part of the scene... I'd like to say, 'Fuck!'" Saulnier gave him permission, noting it showed the actor was fully aligned with the film's tone.

The director credited Stewart's last-minute involvement as the sole reason the movie got made, telling the audience that Stewart is "why I still can make movies."