10 Recent Movies That Were Forced To Shut Down Production (And Why)
1. The Suicide Squad
As this list of injuries and controversies demonstrates, it's practically unheard of for a movie to shut down production for a positive reason, which is why it's surprising to find such a heartwarming story (albeit one that's tinged with sadness) as the cause behind The Suicide Squad's recent stoppage of filming.
At the tail-end of February, director James Gunn's pet dog, Wesley, sadly passed away. In another reality, Gunn wouldn't have had the chance to say goodbye to his loyal hound, but in this case, he did: graciously, Warner Bros allowed the filmmaker to halt production of the movie (which was shooting in Panama at the time) to fly home and be with Wesley in his final moments.
Taking to Instagram, Gunn posted a touching tribute to his four-legged friend, a snippet of which we'll relay here (try not to get choked up):
"Through a divorce and a chaotic single life and various relationships, you were my one true constant. And in my darkest hours, you were the slim tether of love and joy that kept me connected to this fragile life. To the world you were Dr. Wesley Von Spears, or Von Spears, but to me you were Wesley, and the best friend I ever had. I love you, buddy. Thank you for making me a better man."
While it's deeply tragic that Gunn has lost a pet he cared so deeply for, it's great to hear that even a studio as massive as Warner Bros is understanding and compassionate enough to close down production of a major blockbuster (at their expense) to allow someone to say goodbye to a friend. N'awww.