Bill Murray admits behaviour on ‘Being Mortal’ set led to film’s suspension
“I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way"
Bill Murray has admitted that his behaviour on the set of new film ‘Being Mortal’, which sparked a complaint from a woman, led to the production’s suspension.
The actor said there had been a “difference of opinion” which caused filming to halt, but did not provide further details about the incident.
“I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way,” he told CNBC during an interview at the annual shareholders meeting for Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday (April 30).
“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.”
He added that he had been “trying to make peace” with the unnamed woman, but did not elaborate on whether the production was due to resume filming.
“We’re both professionals,” he said of the woman. “We like each other’s work. We like each other I think and if you can’t really get along and trust each other, there’s no point in going further working together or making a movie as well.”
The Ghostbusters actor added that the incident had been “quite an education for me”.
“The world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now. Things change and the times change so it’s important for me to figure it out.”
He continued: “I think it’s a sad dog that can’t learn any more. I don’t want to be that sad dog and I have no intention of it.”
Searchlight Pictures previously confirmed production was suspended, but declined to elaborate further.
Being Mortal is based on the book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, by surgeon and author Dr Atul Gawande.
The film was due to be released next year, and also stars Seth Rogan and Aziz Ansari, who is also writing, directing and producing the film.
Earlier this year, Murray confirmed that he would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an unnamed villian in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.