Behind-the-Scenes Drama Revealed: Red, White & Royal Blue Director's Unexpected Encounter with Star

Summary

Amidst filming, Director Matthew Lopez skillfully handled a delicate predicament involving actor Taylor Zakhar. Zakhar hesitated about shooting an intimate scene owing to concerns regarding his natural body hair.

Lopez managed the situation tactfully, including his hair and makeup person as a witness to the discussion, and ultimately reassuring Zakhar that his natural physique was stunning and suitable for the scene. This occurrence underscores Lopez's adeptness at navigating sensitive circumstances and exhibits his ingenuity and cleverness, which go beyond his prowess as a playwright and director.

Matthew Lopez recently shared a challenging moment that took place while filming Prime Video's adaptation of Casey McQuiston's bestselling novel, "Red, White & Royal Blue." The romantic comedy tells the heartwarming story of Prince Henry (played by Taylor Zakhar) and Alex (played by Nicholas Galitzine), the President's son, and their journey of queer love.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Matthew Lopez opened up about a somewhat uncomfortable incident that occurred between him and Taylor Zakhar on set. Zakhar expressed reservations about filming an intimate scene due to his natural body hair. In response, Lopez called upon his hair and makeup artist to witness the conversation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining his professional reputation. For Lopez's full remarks, please see below.

Mathew Lopez Has Had Quite The Career

"I enter Taylor's trailer after working on this movie for about five or six weeks," López shared. "Karen turns to Taylor and says, 'Okay, tell him what you shared with me.' He responds, 'I'm not sure if I should shave or not,'" López recounted. "I ask, 'Your face?' and he clarifies, 'No, babe.' I then inquire, 'Well, what do you want to do about it?' He replies, 'Just have a look, alright?' Concerned about potential drama, I have my hair and makeup person present as a chaperone, as I didn't want my career jeopardized before it even began. Taylor proceeds to lower his pants and reveals his buttocks, saying, 'Take a look at this.' I reassure him, 'You're absolutely fine, you look amazing! The human body in its natural form is a thing of beauty.' I then tell Taylor, 'Yeah, just come to the set with your hairy butt.'"

Matthew Lopez, the renowned playwright and screenwriter, gained recognition even before directing his first film, Red, White & Royal Blue. His exceptional talent was evident early on when his play, The Whipping Man, premiered Off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theater Club in 2006. Esteemed critics and viewers were captivated by the play's powerful emotions, leading to it receiving numerous accolades, including the prestigious John Gassner New Play Award.

After the success of The Whipping Man, Lopez went on to write several other highly successful plays, including Somewhere in 2011, Reverberation, and The Legend of Georgia McBride. In 2018, he premiered his play The Inheritance at London's Young Vic Theater, which was met with widespread critical acclaim. The play has received numerous prestigious awards and is currently recognized as the most awarded play in recent years.

During the filming of Red, White & Royal Blue, Zakhar made a request that put Lopez in a delicate position. However, being in the midst of shooting his first feature film, Lopez demonstrated his ability to navigate the situation wisely, showcasing his intelligence and wit extend beyond his talents in writing and filmmaking.

Source: EW