Simon Pegg's New Movie Shut Down Indefinitely Due To Funding "Crisis"

Simon Pegg's upcoming film, Angels in the Asylum, has halted production indefinitely due to a funding crisis, leaving crew members, producers, and suppliers unpaid. The project is directed by Rob Sorrenti in his feature debut, with Pegg, known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead and Mission: Impossible, leading the cast alongside Fantastic Beasts' Katherine Waterston, Minnie Driver, Rose Williams, Aurora Perrineau, and Kai Alexander. The film, inspired by a BBC Newsnight exposé, aimed to tell the true stories of women in the 1930s who were incarcerated at Long Grove Asylum in Surrey for being typhoid carriers.

Principal photography for Angels in the Asylum began in January 2025 without its financing fully in place. Now, Deadline has reported that after 15 days of filming, production was halted in February due to a lack of funding, leaving crew members said to be owed at least £600,000 in wages, and cast pay being held in an escrow account under Equity union agreements.

There is no word on when the $6.4 million-budgeted production might restart, leaving the future of Angels in the Asylum uncertain. According to the source, Sorrenti and producer Heather Greenwood's funding under an arrangement with distributor Parkland Pictures has not materialized. However, Parkland CEO John Cairns told Deadline that his company's involvement with the film was limited to working as a sales agent. Sorrenti and Greenwood said the situation was "devastating," and they are working to find a solution. In an email they sent to the cast and crew, they wrote:

We appreciate how difficult this is for everyone. We’re incredibly sorry. We endeavour to give you all an update as soon as possible, but the situation is incredibly complex … Please know we are in this with you, neither of us intended to be in this situation and have been personally affected by it too.

What This Means For Angels In The Asylum's Future

An Unfortunate Setback For Simon Pegg

At this point, there is no clear timeline for when, or if, Angels in the Asylumwill be able to resume production. While the film's producers are reportedly seeking additional funding, there's no guarantee that the necessary funds will be secured. If the financial crisis persists, the British indie film could be shelved indefinitely or face significant changes, such as recasting, script adjustments, or a move to a different production model. For Pegg, this marks an unfortunate setback, as the film was expected to be a notable departure from his well-known comedic and action-heavy roles, such as Hugh Campbell Sr. in The Boys.

Pegg plays Benji in the Mission: Impossible movies and Scotty in the Kelvin timeline Star Trek films.

Given Pegg's status as a fan-favorite actor with a dedicated following from his appearances in Mission: Impossible and Star Trek, Angels in the Asylumhad the potential to be a significant career move, allowing him to play a more dramatic and historical part. If the film fails to recover from its financial troubles, it would represent a major missed opportunity, not only for Pegg but also for the ensemble cast, the filmmakers, crew, and audiences who were eager to see the film's important story being brought to the big screen.

Our Take On Angels In The Asylum's Halt

The Future Of The Film Is Uncertain

Simon Pegg as Gary King standing outside with green mist behind him in The World's End — The World's End Simon Pegg as Gary King

The indefinite shutdown of Angels in the Asylum is an unfortunate reminder of how fragile the making of indie movies can be, especially in the current financial landscape. While Pegg has built a career on genre-defining comedies and action-packed blockbusters, this project not only had the potential to showcase a new side of his acting rage, but it also had the potential to open doors for first-time feature director Sorrenti. The film's important historical and psychological themes also would've shed light on such a dark moment in UK history.

That said, this isn't necessarily the end for Angels in the Asylum. If the production team can secure additional funding or attract a streaming partner, the film could potentially see the light of day. Pegg's star power and the film's compelling premise could draw in investors willing to take a chance on the project. However, the longer the production remains halted and indebted, the higher the risk that the film will be shelved altogether. Hopefully the team behind Angels in the Asylum will find a way to move forward, so audiences can eventually see Pegg take on such an ambitious role.

Source: Deadline