‘Game of Thrones’ Stunt Scandals: Leaked Video Sparks Questions Regarding HBO’s Safety Standards

A video showing a stunt going terribly wrong on the set of Game of Thrones has started a wave of concern about how HBO handles safety. The clip, shared with Deadline, shows stunt performer Andy Pilgrim getting hurt during a shoot back in 2014 for Season 5’s episode Hardhome.

In the video, Pilgrim is standing on a large wooden wall, about 16 feet tall. It suddenly tips forward and slams into the ground. He was supposed to fall with it safely. Instead, he ended up with a badly broken ankle.

Pilgrim later said that during rehearsals, the wall was lowered slowly using a crane. But during the actual shoot, the stunt was changed. The wall dropped without control, bounced when it hit the floor, and caused the injury. He also said there were more performers on the wall during filming than during the practice run, and they were placed higher up.

The video shows the wall falling and two crane cables hanging loosely, not doing anything to help. Pilgrim was dressed as one of the undead soldiers in a scene where the Night King’s army charges forward.

Four years later, Pilgrim took legal action against Fire & Blood Productions, the company behind the show. According to Deadline, he settled the case for £500,000 (around $686,000). He hasn’t spoken publicly about it, but his story is similar to another serious stunt injury that happened in 2018.

That other case involves stuntwoman Casey Michaels. She hurt herself while doing a jump from a 12-foot ledge onto a landing rig made of cardboard boxes. She says the setup was changed between rehearsal and filming, just like in Pilgrim’s case. More people were added to the scene, and the landing surface wasn’t the same. Michaels shattered her ankle and later got a £7 million ($9.6 million) settlement. She spoke to Deadline last month about how the injury affected her life.

Both of these stunts were designed by the same person, Rowley Irlam. He was the stunt coordinator on Game of Thrones and still works for HBO on the prequel show House of the Dragon. Irlam strongly denies the claims made against him.

Talking about Pilgrim’s injury, he said: “The unfortunate incident involving Mr Pilgrim took place 11 years ago. The matter was resolved between Mr Pilgrim and the production company and there were no rulings or findings of fault against me personally.”

He also added: “The accusations you put forward are simply untrue and unfounded.”

Irlam said Pilgrim kept working with him for two more seasons after the injury and even helped with safety. He pointed out that he’s been in the business for over 20 years, working on more than 150 productions. According to him, he’s only had two major accidents during that time.

“We put great care into designing stunt sequences with safety as the top priority. In the rare instances when an injury does occur, it is deeply upsetting for everyone involved,” Irlam said.

But Deadline found another case from back in 2010, when Irlam was working on Captain America: The First Avenger. Two stunt performers said they were hurt during filming, and one claimed they were knocked out.

Even with these incidents, HBO is backing Irlam. A spokesperson told Deadline: “We take these matters very seriously. Mr. Irlam is a celebrated and respected stunt coordinator and has an extensive history with HBO productions. We remain confident in his abilities and know he has always done everything possible to maintain the high safety standards that are required on our productions.”

After Pilgrim’s accident, it was reported to the workplace safety office in Northern Ireland, called HSENI. But there was no full investigation. HSENI said they focus on the most serious cases, like when someone dies on the job.

For Casey Michaels’ injury, there’s confusion about whether it was reported at all. HBO says they told HSENI about it, but the agency says they have no record of it.

Wayne Michaels, Casey’s father, is also a stunt performer and once worked as James Bond’s double. He believes the problem is much bigger than just one or two accidents. He told Deadline: “One can see a disturbing pattern of behaviour and repeated systemic failings that would not be tolerated in any other industry.”

He said there’s a culture in the stunt world where people are afraid to speak out about injuries because they don’t want to lose work or be seen as weak. “It is not uncommon for stunt coordinators to deny responsibility for accidents and injuries despite the injured performer having reported to and received instructions from them,” he said.

With the video now being shared in the stunt community, people are taking a closer look at how these dangerous scenes are planned and whether enough is being done to keep performers safe.

Even though Game of Thrones was known for epic battles and jaw-dropping action, this behind-the-scenes footage is showing something much more serious, real injuries and real concerns about safety.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!