Simon Pegg’s upcoming film,Angels in the Asylum, has halted production indefinitely due to a funding crisis, leaving crew members, producers, and suppliers unpaid. The project is directed by Rob Sorrenti in his feature debut, with Pegg, known forhis roles inShaun of the DeadandMission: Impossible, leading the cast alongsideFantastic Beasts' Katherine Waterston, Minnie Driver, Rose Williams, Aurora Perrineau, and Kai Alexander. The film, inspired by a BBCNewsnightexposé, aimed to tell the true stories of women in the 1930s who were incarcerated at Long Grove Asylum in Surrey for being typhoid carriers.
Principal photography forAngels in the Asylumbegan in January 2025 without its financing fully in place. Now,Deadlinehas reported that after 15 days of filming,production was halted in February due to a lack of funding, leaving crew members said to be owed at least £600,000 in wages, and cast pay being held in an escrow account under Equity union agreements.
There is no word on when the $6.4 million-budgeted production might restart, leaving the future ofAngels in the Asylumuncertain. According to the source, Sorrenti and producer Heather Greenwood’s funding under an arrangement with distributor Parkland Pictures has not materialized. However, Parkland CEO John Cairns toldDeadlinethat his company’s involvement with the film was limited to working as a sales agent. Sorrenti and Greenwood said the situation was “devastating,” and they are working to find a solution. In an email they sent to the cast and crew, they wrote:
We appreciate how difficult this is for everyone. We’re incredibly sorry. We endeavour to give you all an update as soon as possible, but the situation is incredibly complex … Please know we are in this with you, neither of us intended to be in this situation and have been personally affected by it too.
What This Means For Angels In The Asylum’s Future
An Unfortunate Setback For Simon Pegg
At this point, there is no clear timeline for when, or if,Angels in the Asylumwill be able to resume production. While the film’s producers are reportedly seeking additional funding, there’s no guarantee that the necessary funds will be secured. If the financial crisis persists,the British indie film could be shelved indefinitely or face significant changes, such as recasting, script adjustments, or a move to a different production model. For Pegg, this marks an unfortunate setback, as the film was expected to be a notable departure from his well-known comedic and action-heavy roles, such asHugh Campbell Sr. inThe Boys.
Pegg plays Benji in theMission: Impossiblemovies and Scotty in the Kelvin timelineStar Trekfilms.
Given Pegg’s status as a fan-favorite actor with a dedicated following fromhis appearances inMission: ImpossibleandStar Trek,Angels in the Asylumhad the potential to be a significant career move, allowing him to play a more dramatic and historical part. If the film fails to recover from its financial troubles,it would represent a major missed opportunity, not only for Pegg but also for the ensemble cast, the filmmakers, crew, and audiences who were eager to see the film’s important story being brought to the big screen.
Our Take On Angels In The Asylum’s Halt
The Future Of The Film Is Uncertain
The indefinite shutdown ofAngels in the Asylumis an unfortunate reminder of how fragile the making ofindie moviescan be, especially in the current financial landscape. While Pegg has built a career on genre-defining comedies and action-packed blockbusters, this project not only had the potential to showcase a new side of his acting rage, butit also had the potential to open doors for first-time feature director Sorrenti. The film’s important historical and psychological themes also would’ve shed light on such a dark moment in UK history.
That said, this isn’t necessarily the end forAngels in the Asylum.If the production team can secure additional funding or attract a streaming partner,the film could potentially see the light of day. Pegg’s star power and the film’s compelling premise could draw in investors willing to take a chance on the project. However, the longer the production remains halted and indebted, the higher the risk that the film will be shelved altogether. Hopefully the team behindAngels in the Asylumwill find a way to move forward, so audiences can eventually see Pegg take on such an ambitious role.
