In why almost seems like a plot from a TV show itself, Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram’s Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake has been forced to halt and relocate filming after the production was threatened with violence and extortion by Baltimore locals. The miniseries was announced back in March 2021, and filming was underway on the adaptation of Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel about an aspiring investigative journalist who attempts to discover the truth about the death of a young activist.
As reported by Deadline, production on the series has been ongoing for a few months, but the Baltimore Police Department has confirmed that the producers of the show were approached by a group of local people who told them that if they did not stop the production, they would “come back and shoot someone.” In reports by the Baltimore Banner, it was claimed that the group involved were drug dealers of the area who “attempted to extort $50,000 from the production,” but the sum was not paid.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
While there have been many production delays of late due to the fallout of the Covid pandemic, this is both a unique and quite frightening reason for a show to have been delayed. Naturally, it is believed that there was a fair amount of concern caused by the incident, and the production has now moved location for the remainder of filming to attempt to keep everyone on the project safe. Whether the threats would have been carried out is thankfully something that was not discovered but will no doubt raise the ever-present questions about gun laws in the U.S. once again.
Lady in The Lake Lost Lupita Nyong’o Earlier This Year
Photo by Gage Skidmore
The limited series of Lady in the Lake was announced in March 2021, with Natalie Portman being joined by Black Panther’s Lupita Nyong’o, who would play journalist Maddie Schwartz and victim Cleo Sherwood respectively. However, Nyong’o departed the show in March this year, but it has not been revealed what caused her departure from Lady in the Lake. Her role was subsequently taken over by Obi-Wan Kenobi star Ingram.
Nyong’o’s biggest upcoming role is as Nakia in this year’s Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is set to hit cinemas in November and is currently Marvel Studios’ only 2022 hope of breaking the $1 billion mark after both Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder both fell just short. Considering the reception the original Black Panther release received, and the added emotional quality the movie will have due to the death of star Chadwick Boseman in 2020, many will be expecting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to round out a shaky year in style.
When it comes to the release of Lady in the Lake, as the movie doesn’t yet have a release date, it is not known whether the recent incident will cause any delays in the series premiering on Apple TV+ next year.
