Aziz Ansari has opened up about his film, “Being Mortal,” getting shut down in 2022 after Bill Murray faced misconduct allegations.
He shared how sad the incident made the legendary actor feel, while expressing hope that the project will resume filming someday.
Aziz Ansari also addressed the 2018 sexual misconduct allegation against him, maintaining the encounter was consensual but admitting it deeply impacted his life.
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Aziz Ansari Says Bill Murray Was ‘Devastated’ By ‘Being Mortal’ Cancellation
Ansari has spoken out about the abrupt end of his dramedy “Being Mortal,” which was shut down in 2022 after misconduct allegations surfaced against Bill Murray, 74.
“He was devastated. He couldn’t believe it happened. I think this movie meant a lot to him,” the “Parks and Recreation” actor shared.
“Being Mortal,” adapted from the 2014 nonfiction book, was set to be Ansari’s feature directorial debut, with him also starring alongside Murray, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer, until things took a turn.
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What Was The Bill Murray Scandal That Halted The Film’s Production?
Production of “Being Mortal” was more than halfway complete when a female crew member accused Murray of inappropriate behavior.
They claimed that the actor crossed boundaries, describing him as overly “touchy” on set.
Following an internal review, the studio concluded the complaint was valid and decided to cancel filming altogether.
Ansari recalled the difficult moment when the controversy broke in 2022: “Everybody’s texting me, ‘Oh, Aziz, I’m so sorry.’ And I said, ‘Oh God, I can’t live in this woe-is-me moment.'”
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Aziz Ansari Put His Focus In A New Project After His Setback
After “Being Mortal” was forced to shut down, Ansari shifted gears and began working on a new project, “Good Fortune.”
He recounted how the film came together, telling THR: “I called Seth. I said, ‘Hey, I know you’re supposed to be filming ‘Being Mortal,’ so you’re free today. This is a sh-tty day for me. If you want to help me, read this, and tell me if you want to do it.”
Two hours later, Ansari shared that Rogen called back and said yes.
“Good Fortune,” now Ansari’s official directorial debut, follows a struggling documentary editor (played by Ansari) who encounters an angel (Keanu Reeves) and switches lives with his wealthy boss (Rogen).
The comedy is set to premiere on September 6 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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Despite the pivot, Ansari admitted he still hopes “Being Mortal” will one day be completed with Murray back on board.
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Aziz Ansari Breaks Silence On 2018 Allegation, Says Encounter Was Consensual
During his chat with the publication, Ansari also reflected on the controversy that surfaced in January 2018, when an anonymous woman accused him of behavior she described as assault, though the comedian maintained it was consensual.
“I mean, I apologized to the person personally, right? When it happened,” Ansari told THR, addressing the claim directly in an interview for the first time.
The “Parks and Recreation” actor also pushed back on the perception that he disappeared from the spotlight, pointing to his 2019 Netflix stand-up special “Aziz Ansari: Right Now,” where he openly spoke about the incident.
“I did that tour, and I wanted to address it in the special because people were curious about how I felt about the whole experience. So I felt like I had to talk about it in the special,” he explained.
The allegation, first shared by a Brooklyn photographer, claimed Ansari had pressured her into sex following a 2017 dinner date.
At the time, he described the encounter as “completely consensual.” Though he briefly retired from public life, Ansari resumed touring later that same year.
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Aziz Ansari Opens Up About ‘# MeToo’ Allegation And Lessons Learned
Meanwhile, Ansari’s 2018 accuser described their encounter as “the worst night of my life” in an essay for Babe.net, a piece that ignited wider debate about the complexities of the #MeToo movement.
Though Ansari didn’t reference her directly in his Netflix special “Right Now,” he acknowledged still grappling with the fallout.
“It’s a tricky thing for me to answer, ’cause I’ve so many things in the last year or so,” he admitted to the audience. “There are times I felt scared. There are times I’ve felt humiliated. There are times I’ve been embarrassed. And ultimately, I just felt terrible that this person felt this way.”
The “Master of None” star added that the experience pushed him to reflect deeply on his behavior.
Over the past year, he said, he’s worked on “becoming a better person” and considering the ripple effects on those close to him. He recalled a friend confiding that the controversy made him reassess every date he had ever been on.
