Ex-Fox Boss: Murdoch Hated 'Fight Club'

Former Fox CEO Bill Mechanic shared insights into his tenure at the studio, detailing a contentious relationship with owner Rupert Murdoch. Mechanic stated that Murdoch preferred flashy content over artistically driven projects and disliked films that challenged viewers. This preference reportedly led to Murdoch's strong negative reaction to David Fincher's 'Fight Club,' with Mechanic recalling an incident where Murdoch questioned the film's violent nature.

Mechanic believes Murdoch's disapproval of 'Fight Club,' which he hadn't even seen in full, was a significant factor in his eventual exit from Fox in June 2000. He noted that the film, despite its initial box office disappointment, later achieved cult classic status upon its DVD release. The studio also harbored doubts about the potential of 'X-Men,' a Marvel comic adaptation, anticipating it would be a failure.

Adding a personal touch to his departure, Mechanic asked Fincher to include the Fox Plaza Tower in the climactic explosion scene of 'Fight Club' as a symbolic tribute to Murdoch. This interview marks the upcoming 4K re-release of 'Fight Club.'