Armie Hammer has recently re-emerged into the public sphere, his career previously sidelined by allegations of cannibalism, sexual misconduct, and rape. Despite the controversy still hanging over him, preventing him from securing studio work, one of his former collaborators has come forward to express their unwavering support for the actor.
Director Tarsem Singh, who cast Hammer as the charming prince opposite Lily Collins' Snow White and Julia Roberts' evil queen in the 2012 film Mirror Mirror, shared his thoughts with The Hollywood Reporter. Singh remains a fervent admirer of Hammer's work and believes that the headlines surrounding the actor's personal life should not tarnish his professional achievements. "I have a deep admiration for Armie Hammer," Singh declares. "I sincerely hope that society will eventually overlook the private decisions adults make in their free time, especially if all parties involved consent. For me, that's sufficient." (The director acknowledges that he is not privy to "all the intricacies" behind the allegations against Hammer.)
Singh recalls that he hadn't seen Hammer's breakthrough role in the 2010 film The Social Network, where the actor played the dual role of the Winklevoss twins, but he did consult with its director, David Fincher, about Hammer's talent. Prior to casting him in Mirror Mirror, a whimsical reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's Snow White tale, Singh met Hammer just once and found no other serious contender for the role. "When I met him personally, I was immediately taken by his humor and wit," Singh enthuses, remembering their meeting. "He was the perfect fit for me."
Singh adds that at the time, Hammer was also set to star opposite Johnny Depp in Gore Verbinski's The Lone Ranger. However, Disney postponed the production of The Lone Ranger due to budget concerns, around the same time as Mirror Mirror was being filmed. The Lone Ranger eventually shot in 2012 and released in 2013 but failed to impress both critics and audiences. "That was a tough period for him," Singh laments, defending The Lone Ranger. "It's a film I adore, but it faced an uphill battle. It's not a film everyone wants to admit liking, and somehow, that makes it a liability. I admire the director and believe the film worked well; it just wasn't the right film at the right time, and some scenes could have been tightened up."
Hammer's career stumbled after several sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2021, leading to his dismissal by agency WME and his replacement in multiple projects. (Hammer maintains that the relationships were consensual but admits to emotional abuse towards the women.) Last year, he announced the launch of his podcast, Armie HammerTime, and recently revealed that he has been turning down acting roles due to his hectic schedule. He is, however, set to co-star with Thomas Jane in the indie Western film Frontier Crucible.
When asked about Disney's new Snow White film and the ongoing scrutiny faced by stars like Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot for their personal views on politics and other topics, Singh expresses empathy for performers in the public eye. He also notes that stars sometimes invite scrutiny through their social media presence. "Everything you say and do is meticulously examined," Singh observes. "These poor souls live in a world I can't fathom, and they all have such a strong social media presence. I would have been canceled long before I started anything because I don't have Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. I talk too much for those platforms."
Singh also discusses the phenomenon of stars' past posts resurfacing to spark debate, following an Oscar season dominated by controversy over old tweets resurfacing for Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón. "These actors find themselves not only facing cross-examination in the present but also being scrutinized retroactively for their past actions," Singh laments. "When you were young and naive, you never thought these things would matter, but guess what? They do now. I could never have held back. Fortunately, I knew I wasn't suited for that kind of internet stuff. It bores me. It's a double-edged sword: they want followers, but when you put your thoughts out there and they're not well-received, they'll be retrospectively examined."
