This week, the cast and crew of the upcoming film Being Mortal received a letter informing them that production was being suspended.

Deadline confirms that the suspension comes as a result of an investigation into a mysterious complaint Searchlight recently received.

Part of the letter reads, “We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and [we] are working with Aziz and [producer Youree Henley] to figure out that timing.”

Details remain scarce about what the complaint alleges and who it’s towards, however an individual close to the production was able to confirm that director Aziz Ansari is not at the center of it and that he was doing everything he could to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

The film was supposed to be Ansari’s feature directorial debut. He would star alongside Seth Rogen and Bill Murray. Production began just a few weeks ago, and the film was being targeted for a 2023 release.

Based on the book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, a 2014 non-fiction book by American surgeon Atul Gawande, the film was set to address end-of-life care, hospice care, while depicting Gawande’s reflections and personal stories.

It’s unclear how long the suspension will last, but it seems clear that Searchlight has an intention to continue production eventually. Aziz Ansari has yet to speak publicly about the matter.

SOURCE: Deadline