Bill Murray film Being Mortal suspended over ‘misbehaviour’ allegations

Complaint was made last week and has led to the shut down of production, says report

Production on Aziz Ansari’s directorial film debut, Being Mortal, has reportedly been suspended due to an alleged complaint regarding its star Bill Murray.

Last week, a complaint was allegedly made about “inappropriate behaviour” on set by Murray.

Production was initially halted for three days, with production fully suspended on Wednesday (20 April), Deadline reports.

A letter, obtained by Vanity Fair, was sent to the cast and crew on Wednesday night. It reads: “Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it

“After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time. We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and are working with Aziz and [producer Youree Henley] to figure out that timing.”

Being Mortal is based on surgeon Atul Gawande’s 2014 book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. As well as directing, Ansari – who helms his own Netflix show Master of None – has written and will star in the film, alongside Seth Rogen.

The film was mooted for a 2023 release. However, Deadline states that it is now unclear if the film will meet this date thanks to the suspension. Production reportedly started on 28 March.

(Getty Images for RFF)

The Independent has contacted Murray’s representatives for comment.

In 2021, Lucy Liu opened up about the alleged dispute she had with Murray while filming the 2000 movie Charlie’s Angels.

Speaking on the Los Angeles Times’s Asian Enough podcast, the actor said that while she wouldn’t “get into the specifics”, there was a moment where she stood up to Murray while on set.