Sean Penn is said to be uninterested in working in an environment that isn’t fully vaccinated, causing production on Gaslit to be disrupted. The actor has reportedly promised to vaccinate everyone connected in the Starz limited production, and has even stated that he will not return to work on the show unless everyone has received the vaccine.
Penn’s production on Gaslit has been put on hold, according to Deadline, until the Burbank-based team is vaccinated.
Penn is refusing to return to work on Gaslit, the UCP-produced Starz limited series in which he co-stars Julia Roberts, until everyone on the set has been vaccinated against Covid, a move that would likely resonate across an industry still dealing with the illness. With the highly dangerous Delta variety raging to the point where Los Angeles has re-imposed indoor mask wearing and unvaccinated cases are soaring at alarming levels across the country, Penn has stressed to the production that everyone be vaccinated. Penn has offered to help with the immunization endeavor for free through his charity, CORE.
NBCUniversal has enforced immunizations for “Zone A” staff, which includes the cast and anyone in close vicinity, according to Deadline. Penn wants everyone participating in the production to be shielded from the pandemic and the ever-dangerous Delta strain, which has been proved to be increasingly spreading over the world.
It’s unknown how the crew has reacted to this demand, or whether Penn is willing to assist those who need the shot. However, it is one of the first prominent personalities in Hollywood to demand a fully vaccinated workplace, and it will be fascinating to see how the crew and others in the business react.
