Bryan Cranston is halting all work on his next thriller, Lone Wolf, as a behind-the-scenes crisis has left cast and crew unpaid. Mark Pellington’s Lone Wolf co-stars Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, also featuring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jennifer Ehle, and Spence Garret. The film follows a mysterious hitman who recruits a woman for a covert government plot to assassinate a high-level politician.
Per Deadline, a financial collapse involving one of the production partners has left many of the cast and crew without pay for weeks of work. Cranston was nearing the end of production when this was revealed. In a statement to Deadline, Cranston revealed that while he has been paid, he’s refusing to finish filming or take part in any promotion until everyone involved in the production is fully compensated.
Cranston explained that while he was not a producer on the film and was not initially aware of the payroll issue, he was deeply upset when he learned of the situation. According to the actor, he and Gladstone are fully aligned with the decision to withdraw from the project until the cast and crew are paid in full. Read his full statement below:
For some reason money that was promised to be deposited into the escrow accounts for the cast and crew were not done so in a timely manner. That caused a couple stoppages to the shooting. Then, apparently some portion of what was promised was deposited, and that lifted the DO NOT WORK order and we started up again.
Right now, there is a strong effort to raise the necessary capital to finish the film, and I think that will happen for two main reasons: One, because the missing few scenes (approximately over two shooting days) are vital to the story. And two, that I (and I think I speak for Lily as well) will not do anything to promote the film until every cast and crew member is paid back in full, and we will not appear on screen again (ie return to filming) for this movie until that happens.
In full transparency, I was paid for my part in this film even before the last temporary work stoppage – so I was surprised when I found out that we had to stop again, and that most of the crew didn’t get, as far as I know, their last two weeks of pay, nor did the co-stars in the movie.
That is where it stands now…I’m distressed that this has caused so much grief and distrust, and so sorry that this crew (which was fantastic) were not treated with the respect they deserved, but I really believe that the producers will manage these difficult times by making everyone whole, and we’ll finish the film….Man, what a mess. BC.
What Bryan Cranston’s Actions & Statement Mean For Lone Wolf
Why This Can’t Be Ignored
Cranston’s refusal to finish Lone Wolf is one of the most high-profile examples of a major actor using their platform to advocate for below-the-line workers in recent memory. Cranston is drawing a clear ethical line by stepping back from production despite receiving his paycheck, making it clear that a movie cannot move forward on the backs of unpaid labor.
Related
Are Bryan Cranston’s comments about Erik Per Sullivan’s absence from the Malcolm in the Middle revival reassuring?
In a recent episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Bryan Cranston shared a discussion he had with Erik Per Sullivan saying no to the Malcolm in the Middle revival. It’s interesting, as I really didn’t think he or the show’s production would bother asking him to return as Dewey, seeing as he’s been out of the spotlight for so long and it seemed unlikely he’d ever come back. However, Cranston sharing this story has reassured me that Per Sullivan has given his blessing to the rest of the cast, and that the new Dewey will be great, and not just a weak attempt at someone trying to pretend to be the original actor, rather than someone else taking on the character.
This mirrors the broader labor consciousness that’s swept Hollywood in the wake of recent strikes. The implications are huge for indie productions where financing often fluctuates. Cranston and Gladstone’s actions could also push more actors in positions of power to take similar stands when faced with predicaments like this, especially when they’re not producers themselves.
While Cranston is not directly liable for Lone Wolf‘s budgetary collapse, his influence has forced the production to confront the problem head-on. This is a reminder that top-tier talent has the ability, and, some would argue, the responsibility, to advocate for and ensure fair practices on set.
Our Take On Bryan Cranston’s Statement
His Loyalty To Crew Members Is A Powerful Industry Message
Cranston’s stance is about more than just one project; it’s a rare display of integrity that puts people first over a product. The entertainment industry has long depended on the long hours and tireless effort of crew members who don’t get the spotlight, and it’s far too often and too easily that their struggles go unnoticed.
Lone Wolf
- Director
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Mark Pellington
- Writers
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Tom Chilcoat
By refusing to participate in promotion, Cranston is also ensuring that Lone Wolf doesn’t benefit from his likeness until everyone has been paid in full. This puts pressure not just on the producers, but also on distributors and marketers. By choosing to halt a film that’s about 95% done, Cranston sends a message that finishing a movie is not more important than doing right by the people who made it possible.
Source: Deadline
- Birthdate
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March 7, 1956
- Birthplace
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Los Angeles, California, USA
- Height
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6 feet 0 inches
