Armie Hammer’s return to the leading-man status hasn’t exactly set the internet on fire. Despite “Citizen Vigilante” being positioned as his biggest comeback vehicle in years, Quiver Distribution’s trailer has reportedly attracted only around 10,000 views.
The thriller marks one of Hammer’s most high-profile projects since his career was derailed by allegations and public scrutiny in the early 2020s. However, the movie is now attracting attention for an entirely different reason.
Find out why Armie Hammer’s comeback film Citizen Vigilante might be banned in the director’s home country
According to reports, Germany’s film ratings board, the FSK, has refused to grant “Citizen Vigilante” an age classification. Without a classification, the movie cannot be distributed in the country, effectively blocking its release.
The film stars Armie Hammer as Sanders, a businessman-turned-vigilante who gains widespread public attention after taking justice into his own hands. The project is directed by Uwe Boll, the controversial filmmaker known for movies including “House of the Dead” and “Alone in the Dark.”
Before production wrapped, the movie underwent a major change. It was originally titled “The Dark Knight,” but was later renamed “Citizen Vigilante” after Warner Bros. reportedly issued a cease-and-desist notice over the title.
Boll previously described the project as a “very dark and violent movie” inspired by current issues facing Europe. Following reports of the FSK’s decision, the director argued that officials were using youth protection concerns as a pretext to suppress a film that addresses migration-related crime.
The controversy doesn’t end there. In an early review, critic Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere called the movie a “furious anti-immigration” parable, comparing it to a modern-day Death Wish story in which Hammer’s character becomes a social media folk hero.
For Hammer, the film represents one of his biggest roles since prosecutors declined to bring charges against him in 2023 following allegations he has consistently denied. The actor has slowly returned to the industry through smaller projects, but “Citizen Vigilante” was widely viewed as his most significant comeback vehicle yet.
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