Kate Beckinsale says 'Canary Black' producers made her perform 'dangerous' action stunts

Yahoo

16 hours ago

Kate Beckinsale is suing the producers of her 2024 film "Canary Black," claiming she was exposed to "unsafe" working conditions and forced to perform stunts resulting in "debilitating" injuries.
In a lawsuit first filed anonymously in December, amended May 21 and obtained by USA TODAY June 12, Beckinsale alleged that the "extremely challenging and physically demanding" action role, in which she plays a former CIA agent, caused "significant trauma to her left knee."
Media site Puck was first to report the lawsuit. Beckinsale is suing producer John Zois, Anton Entertainment Media Services and Canary Black LTD for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery. Beckinsale, 51, is requesting a jury trial, as well as economic, non-economic and punitive damages.
USA TODAY has reached out to Beckinsale and Zois' reps for comment.
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Beckinsale, who filmed the movie from late 2022 to early 2023, said despite prior agreements and the actress and her team raising the alarm on what they call "unsafe" conditions – including 15-hour shooting days, surprise stunts and lack of adequate equipment and medical personnel on set – the production "recklessly and intentionally" forged ahead, according to the lawsuit.
Before filming began in Croatia in September 2022, Beckinsale and the movie's producers had agreed to have physical health resources – including gym equipment, a physical trainer or a qualified massage therapist – but none were provided, the lawsuit stated. She was also contracted to be on set for no more than 12 hours, which filming routinely pushed past.
She said the producers would often deviate from the filming schedule and inform her of stunts "spur of the moment," therefore "recklessly increasing the risk of injury." And she recalled being told on the same day that scenes previously set to be filmed via green screen were suddenly "practical."
At one point, Beckinsale's stuntwoman broke an ankle after a "dangerous" scene. As a replacement, the producers provided an "unqualified" stunt performer who was "simply the girlfriend of the stunt coordinator." According to Beckinsale, Zois at another point told her "that the production company had failed" to do "any significant training period" for things like harness work.
In November 2022, Beckinsale and her team brought concerns to Zois, per the filing, which he purportedly acknowledged. "I don't know what else to say other than you're right," he said, according to the suit. And "bottom line, we need to shorten these days…The days are too packed for the pace we are moving and it's CLEARLY not sustainable." However, conditions did not change, the lawsuit states.
And in a December 2022 incident, Beckinsale was directed to perform a "dangerous" stunt with a male actor that involved throwing and slamming her into a wall, per the filing. The actor was fully padded, while Beckinsale only received mini pads, providing no protection. Despite her complaints, many takes were shot, resulting in her suffering a complex meniscus tear in her left knee, the suit said.
The lawsuit stated that Beckinsale was immediately pressured to return to finish the film, with the actress asserting her return was contingent upon her doctor approving the shot list and the team sticking to strict physical limitations.
Despite the medical orders, when the actress returned in February 2023, the film's producers failed to adhere to orders, continuing to inform her of unsafe action shots last minute, which caused further injury.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kate Beckinsale lawsuit: 'Canary Black' stunts were 'unsafe'