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Sean Penn refuses to resume work on Watergate-themed limited series Starz Gas lit up to the entire production, not only the actors and the main team were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
As reported by our sister site Deadline, Penn made his stance towards producer UCP clear upon his return from the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Flag day, a film he directed and starred alongside Katheryn Winnick (Big sky), his daughter Dylan Penn and Josh Brolin. Penn would still have a few weeks of filming Gas lit.
The current COVID security protocols in Hollywood, which were the product of many negotiations with various unions, only offer producers “the opportunity to implement mandatory vaccination policies for the actors and the team in Zone A on a production base by production, ”notes Deadline. (Area A includes the places where unmasked actors congregate and perform on set, surrounded only by key team members.)
Beyond Zone A is a much larger set of crew and workers who are not required by existing protocols to be vaccinated. The UCP, however, has always kept a mobile clinic close to the set from which anyone can receive the COVID vaccine of their choice, along with any required follow-up.
By deadline, Penn is fully vaccinated and has taken that position not out of concern for himself or his teammates, but knowing that unvaccinated crew members not stationed in Zone A have the potential to spread the virus. But again, (many) unions are involved, so no producer can just snap their fingers and Penn’s wish is granted.
Penn has no official comment on the situation at this time, his representatives told TVLine. UCP declined to comment on the stalemate.
Based on real events, Starz’s Gas lit follows Martha Mitchell (played by Julia Roberts), a socialite Arkansan celebrity and wife of loyal Nixon Attorney General John Mitchell (played by Penn). Despite her party affiliation, Martha is the first person to publicly sound the alarm over Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, provoking both the presidency and her personal life. As Attorney General, Mitchell is Nixon’s most trusted advisor and best friend. Temperament, rude and ruthless – but desperately in love with his famous outspoken wife – he will be forced to choose between Martha and the President.
Additional cast includes Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Allison Tolman (Fargo), JC MacKenzie (October faction), Chris Bauer (For all mankind), Hamish Linklater (Legion) and Chris Messina (The Mindy project).
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