'Green Room' director pays tribute to Patrick Stewart for saving film from being scrapped

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jeremy Saulnier has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart following the actor’s death at 86, recalling how his involvement in ‘Green Room’ helped rescue the production when the film was close to shutting down.

Speaking during a 10th-anniversary screening of the film in Los Angeles on Friday, October 30, the writer and director remembered Stewart as a gentleman whose unexpected interest in the project changed its fate.

Jeremy Saulnier recalls how Patrick Stewart saved ‘Green Room’ from shutting down

Saulnier became emotional while addressing the audience at the screening as he acknowledged Stewart’s death. “Who’s sad as we lost Patrick Stewart yesterday? Me,” he said during his introduction. He initially planned to promote his upcoming project ‘Slayground’ but decided to dedicate his appearance to celebrating the late actor instead.

“He had no business doing this movie. He had plenty of opportunities otherwise,” Saulnier said, explaining that Stewart's involvement came at a critical moment for the production. The filmmaker recalled that the team had reached what he described as “the point of no return,” with no actor cast to play Darcy Banker, the skinhead leader eventually portrayed by Stewart.

“We were close to shutting down,” Saulnier recalled. The situation changed when Stewart unexpectedly expressed interest in the project. “Patrick Stewart, out of the blue, sort of expressed interest in the project,” he said.

Within approximately a week, Saulnier found himself speaking with the actor over the phone. He remembered leaving the stage at one point, believing the production might have to dismantle its sets and shut down entirely. Instead, Stewart's decision to join the film transformed its prospects.

“Instead, this dude came out of nowhere, from way above our sort of zone, and just swooped down, nosedived into our cruddy a** movie and saved us, and said yes,” Saulnier said. He added that the movie was immediately greenlit and production moved forward. The filmmaker credited Stewart with taking a chance on the project and making ‘Green Room’ possible.

Saulnier also remembered Stewart as a "sweetheart, true gentleman, a kind leader to our whole cast.”

Patrick Stewart dies at 86 following brief battle with Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia

According to a statement shared on Stewart's Instagram account, the actor died following a brief battle with Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia. The statement celebrated his contributions to entertainment, philanthropy and activism, describing his voice and talent as synonymous with memorable performances across different genres.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement read. It also recognised his work supporting human rights, survivors of domestic violence, global refugees, veterans' mental health services and animal welfare, particularly his cherished foster pitties.

Stewart was also remembered as a Knight, Chancellor, motorsport enthusiast and lifelong Huddersfield Football fan. The statement added that he would be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to his professional and personal life.

Among his most recognised roles were Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and Professor Charles Xavier in the ‘X-Men’ film franchise. Stewart and his ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ co-stars reprised their characters in several films before JJ Abrams rebooted the film franchise with characters from the original series.

Stewart later returned to the franchise for ‘Star Trek: Picard’, which ran from 2020 to 2023. In the ‘X-Men’ films, Stewart portrayed Professor Xavier opposite his close friend Ian McKellen, who played the villainous Magneto.