Last night Variety’s J. Kim Murphy and Matt Donnelly reported that Searchlight has suspended production on Being Mortal, a comedy that Aziz Ansari is directing with himself, Seth Rogen, Bill Murray and Keke Palmer costarring.
The problem is a “complaint”, presumably lodged by someone working on the film about someone else in the production’s employ.
Variety doesn’t divulge particulars but given the dubious sexual misconduct allegation that Ansari was wrongfully tarnished with four years ago, the natural presumption on the part of industry readers is that the “complaint” has something to do with inappropriate behavior, possibly of a sexual or racial nature (though perhaps not).
And yet Murphy and Donnelly wait until paragraph #4 to state that the complaint is not directed against Ansari.
With Ansari’s photo on top and the words “Suspends Production” in the headline, what casual glancer wouldn’t presume that Ansari has once again stepped into something? Either way it was awfully nice of Murphy and Donnelly to clarify.
Based on a 2014 non–fiction book by American surgeon Atul Gawande, Being Mortal is reportedly about halfway through filming.
Whatever the merits or particulars, it seems odd that a huge commercial enterprise has been shut down over what may have been a single unwelcome incident. Was someone killed? The word “complaint” suggests not. Remember the old adage “the show must go on”? Not so much nowadays.
