Lee Daniels and Mo’Nique may have resolved their personal differences, but their latest collaboration, The Deliverance, seems to have stirred up some unexpected forces. After years of estrangement, the comedian and the acclaimed director reunited for a horror film centered around demonic possession. However, the eerie nature of the film seemed to extend beyond the screen and into real life, leading to some unsettling occurrences on set.
During an interview with Bevy Smith on Sirius XM, Daniels, alongside Mo’Nique, Andra Day, and Glenn Close, recounted a series of strange incidents that made them feel the need to bring in a “deliverer” to cleanse the studio’s energy. Daniels explained,
“Things happen, and I was not going to let things happen on my set. I also needed it for myself. So, we prayed before every take—even though there are those among us who don’t believe in prayer.”
Unfortunately, his efforts to maintain a positive environment might not have been entirely successful. In an exclusive interview with a news channel, Daniels revealed that he continued his tradition of casting his sister in all of his films, believing her presence would bring good fortune. However, this time, things took an unsettling turn.
“My sister was in the cancer scene with Glenn Close,” Daniels shared. “I put her in the chemo scene, playing the woman making fun of Glenn. Just two days after shooting, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Then, my dog died. To add to it, during filming, something flew into Andra Day’s eye. It was quite frightening. That’s why we felt compelled to pray. I called an Apostle on the very first day, but even with all our precautions, we were playing with something dangerous by dealing with the truth, which can often be a risky playground.”
The string of peculiar events did not end there. Mo’Nique also described her own brush with danger while filming. “Lee had me doing a scene outside,” she recalled to Bevy Smith. “The demon was supposed to be on top of the building, so they kept blowing this stuff around. At one point, I was like, ‘Lee, do we have this shot yet? Because I can’t breathe.’ He kept insisting, ‘One more time, one more time.’ By the end of the day, my thyroid had swollen up. I was like, ‘What kind of stuff is this?’ It felt like something strange was definitely happening with The Deliverance.”
Despite these unsettling occurrences, the much-anticipated reunion between Daniels and Mo’Nique has not disappointed their fans. The two had famously fallen out after their work on *Precious*, but their reconciliation for The Deliverance marked a significant moment in Hollywood. Their collaboration has sparked significant buzz on social media, with fans sharing clips of the film’s intense and surreal scenes, adding to the movie’s growing reputation for blending reality and the supernatural.
In the end, while the production of The Deliverance may have been marked by a series of bizarre and unnerving events, it also served as a testament to the dynamic and powerful storytelling of its creators. Daniels and Mo’Nique have proven that, regardless of the challenges—whether personal or otherworldly—they can still come together to produce compelling, unforgettable cinema. As the film continues to captivate audiences, it’s clear that the true magic of The Deliverance lies not only in its chilling narrative but also in the remarkable comeback story of its key players.
