Deaths on movie sets are rare, but the industry is not without its own set of risks, and they do happen. One of the most recent incidents occurred on the set of Doug Liman's American Made, in which two crew members died in a tragic plane crash. The accident has caused a wave of finger-pointing as the film's release date draws near, and now Liman himself has finally opened up about the incident. Per his comments, he seemed just as shocked by the ordeal as everyone else -- though he also acknowledged the inherent risks of aviation. Liman said:
Just that I'm a pilot and Tom Cruise is a pilot. I don't know anything specific about the accident, because it didn't happen during the filming. They were just moving one of the airplanes. I was just going to say that it's just a reminder --- something all pilots know --- which is that flying is really dangerous. Not in commercial planes, by the way. I don't want to scare people who are about to get on a United flight. Being on a commercial airplane is actually one of the safest places you can be on the planet.
According to Doug Liman's comments to Vulture, he doesn't know the particulars about the accident. All he can speak to is the fact that it did not occur while shooting, as the men in the plane were only moving the aircraft and it had nothing to do with the actual production of the film. As a seasoned pilot (a hobby that he shares with Tom Cruise), he acknowledges the inherent dangers that present themselves every time someone enters the cockpit of a small plane. Beyond that, he doesn't seem particularly eager to discuss the situation.
Of course, Doug Liman's remarks are only the latest in a long line of comments made by the various parties involved in this ordeal. Although several people associated with the production (such as actress Sarah Wright Olsen, who plays Tom Cruise's wife in the film) have come forward and confirmed that American Made took all of the necessary precautions, other parties have not shared that belief. The families of Alan Purwin and Carlos Berl (the two men killed in the accident) have filed legal complaints against the production, citing the director and star's grueling hours and demands as contributing factors. This situation has raised far more questions than answers in recent days, so we will just have to wait and see what happens as more details become available.
For a closer look at just how much aerial photography went into American Made, take a look at a trailer below to see for yourself.
American Made will debut in theaters later this month on September 29. From there, Tom Cruise and Doug Liman will then go on to team-up once more for Live Die Repeat and Repeat, though the Edge of Tomorrow sequel does not yet have a set release date. For more information on all of the movies left to debut over the next year, check out our 2017 movie premiere guide and out 2018 movie premiere guide!
