Aziz Ansari is best known as the creator and star of the Netflix series Master of None, for which he received numerous acting and writing awards. Ansari began performing stand-up comedy in New York City in 2000, while a student at NYU Stern. The production of Aziz Ansari’s film “Being Mortal” was recently halted due to a complaint that did not involve the comedian.

Deadline has learned that Searchlight Pictures has halted production on their adaptation of Being Mortal, directed by Aziz Ansari and starring Ansari, Bill Murray, and Seth Rogen, for the past three days. Right now, the cast and crew are receiving a letter informing them of the decision to halt production. The letter is available to read below.

According to insiders, it is not related to COVID-19, and after investigating a complaint filed last week, the studio decided to halt production while they rethink their next steps. While the exact details of the complaint are unknown, sources tell Deadline that it was not made against Ansari and that he and his producing partner, Youree Henley, have been working with the studio to figure out what the next steps are.

According to IMDb, “Being Mortal” also stars Keke Palmer, Bill Murray, and Seth Rogen. A source tells Page Six exclusively that Rogen was not involved in the complaint or investigation. Requests for comment from the other actors were not immediately returned. “Being Mortal” is based on American surgeon Atul Gawande’s 2014 nonfiction book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.”

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According to his website, Gawande’s best-seller “follows a hospice nurse on her rounds, a geriatrician in his clinic and reformers turning nursing homes upside down.” Following a January 2018 Babe.net article that described a woman’s sexual experience with him as either clumsy lovemaking or sexual misconduct, Ansari has been slowly making his way back to Hollywood over the last three years.

Following the allegations, he announced his first official stand-up show in New York in February 2019, and later that year, he returned to Netflix with a special. “There were times I felt really upset and humiliated and embarrassed, and ultimately I just felt terrible this person felt this way,” the comedian said during a set in February 2019. “But you know, after a year, how I feel about it is, I hope it was a step forward. It made me think about a lot, and I hope I’ve become a better person.”

The film was supposed to be released in 2023, but it’s unclear whether that date will be pushed back due to the investigation. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

Dear Being Mortal Cast and Crew,
We know you are all concerned about the recent delays in production and want to give you an update.
Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it. After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time.
We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and are working with Aziz and Youree to figure out that timing.
Production will be in touch with you to share details on the wrap, and we will let you know as soon as we have more information to share.
Searchlight Pictures

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Shivangini Rawat

Shivangini is a law student with a passion for writing and music. She writes for Thirstyfornews and enjoys cooking, baking, and playing various instruments. In her free time, she watches movies, TV shows, and anime, with a love for bands like Alcest and Scorpions.

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