Being Mortal (film)

Last updated

Being Mortal
Directed by Aziz Ansari
Screenplay byAziz Ansari
Based on Being Mortal
by Atul Gawande
Produced by
  • Aziz Ansari
  • Youree Henley
Starring
Production
company
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Being Mortal is a suspended American comedy-drama film written, directed, produced by, and starring Aziz Ansari in what was set to be his feature directorial debut. It is based on the 2014 non-fiction book Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Bill Murray, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer were set to co-star.

Contents

Filming began in March 2022. In April, production was suspended due to a complaint against Murray for allegedly sexually harassing a young female crew member.

Cast

Production

On February 22, 2022, Searchlight Pictures announced the development of an untitled film written, directed, and produced by Aziz Ansari in his feature directorial debut, with Ansari and Bill Murray attached to star. Taylor Friedman and Cameron Chidsey oversaw the film for Searchlight. Youree Henley was also a producer. [1] In March, the title was revealed to be Being Mortal, the same as the material it is based on. In the following months, Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer joined the cast. [2] [3]

Suspension

After principal photography began on March 28, 2022, Searchlight halted production on April 18 and officially suspended production on April 20 after investigating a complaint filed against Murray for "inappropriate behavior" a week prior. In a letter to the cast and crew, Searchlight said they were working with Ansari and Henley to resolve the matter and resume production. [4] [5]

On April 30, Murray made a similar statement: "I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn't taken that way. The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it, and so they stopped the production. But as of now, we're talking and we're trying to make peace with each other." [6] In October of that year, reports emerged that Murray had allegedly straddled a "much younger" female production assistant and while both masked, kissed her on the mouth, causing her to file an official complaint. [7]

Shortly afterward, Palmer told Variety that the film would need "a major rewrite" to be completed without Murray, but that "if somebody could figure it out, it's Aziz". [8]

The filmmakers sought to find a financier and distributor to replace Searchlight to no avail. Ansari moved on to direct another film, Good Fortune , after which he reportedly intends to revisit Being Mortal. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 22, 2022). "Bill Murray, Aziz Ansari Team for Searchlight Comedy-Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ Kroll, Justin (March 24, 2022). "Seth Rogen Joins Bill Murray In Aziz Anzari's Directorial Debut Being Mortal For Searchlight". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 1, 2022). "Keke Palmer Joins Bill Murray and Seth Rogen in Aziz Ansari's Being Mortal (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ Kroll, Justin (April 20, 2022). "Searchlight Pictures Suspends Production On Adaptation Of Being Mortal". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (April 21, 2022). "Being Mortal Production Suspended Due To Complaint Against Bill Murray For Inappropriate Behavior". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ Haring, Bruce (April 30, 2022). "Bill Murray Speaks Out On Being Mortal Production Suspension: 'I Did Something I Thought Was Funny, And It Wasn't Taken That Way'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ Gardner, Eriq (October 10, 2022). "The Secret Bill Murray Settlement Revealed". Puck . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ Malkin, Marc (October 16, 2022). "Keke Palmer Says Aziz Ansari's 'Being Mortal' May Need 'Major Rewrite' After Bill Murray Controversy Suspended Production". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  9. ↑ Belloni, Matthew (February 27, 2023). "11 Burning Questions About the First Two Months of Hollywood '23" . Puck. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
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