The production of Aziz Ansari’s film Being Mortal has been suspended over complaints about the behaviour of star Bill Murray on set.
Murray stars alongside Ansari and Seth Rogen in film, and principal photography started a while ago, meaning that much of the film has likely been shot already.
It’s not known whether Murray will remain in the film or if his role will be recast, but a letter was sent out to staff by Searchlight Pictures informing them that filming would cease because of a complaint.
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The letter read: “Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it.”
Even though the shutdown was unspecified, sources told Variety it was nothing to do with Covid-19, nor was it to do with Rogen or Ansari.
While we can’t be sure what the actual complaint relates to, this is not the first time that Bill Murray has been involved in some conflict on set.
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Back in 2000 on the set of Charlie’s Angels, Lucy Liu reportedly took offence with Murray’s behaviour after he started ‘hurling insults’ at her following a rewrite that he hadn’t been told about.
It’s only in more recent times that Liu has opened up on the incident, calling the Ghostbusters star’s behaviour ‘inexcusable and unacceptable’.
She told the LA Times: “I stood up for myself, and I don’t regret it.
“Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or wherever you came from, there’s no need to condescend or to put other people down.”
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The letter from Searchlight to the crew continued: “We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project.
“Our hope is to resume production and [we] are working with Aziz and [producer Youree Henley] to figure out that timing.
“Production will be in touch with you to share details on the wrap, and we will let you know as soon as we have more information to share.”
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Ansari, who created the series Master of None, is not only acting in the new series, but has also written it and is directing and producing.
The film is scheduled for release in 2023, though it’s not clear whether this shutdown will affect that date.
Being Mortal is based on a 2014 non-fiction book by Atul Gawande which looks at the ways in which modern medicine intervenes at the end of people’s lives.
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We don’t know a great deal about the plot, and it’s not clear who Ansari, Rogen or Murray will play – if anyone at all at this stage.
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Topics: Bill Murray, Seth Rogen, Celebrity, Film and TV
Tom Wood