Russell Crowe film halted by pig disease

Russell Crowe’s new film has been pulled into a public-health response far from a movie set. “The Last Druid,” which had been shooting in Sant Cugat del Vallès, near Barcelona, was ordered to stop after Catalan authorities said the production had not met biosecurity conditions required in an African swine fever risk zone. The halt affects filming at Can Sant Joan, an old golf course owned by the Catalan land institute Incasòl. Officials said the pause will remain in place until the site is fully sealed off to prevent wild animals from entering. The production stars Crowe and is directed by William Eubank, according to Spanish media reports citing the regional government and Europa Press. The dispute is not about an infection on the set itself. It is about whether the filming area was properly fenced and controlled in a part of Catalonia where authorities have tightened rules to stop the virus from spreading through wild fauna, especially wild boar. ### Why did officials stop filming at Can Sant Joan? The Catalan Agriculture Department said it sent a legal requirement to the production company to halt filming until a perimeter closure that complies with African swine fever prevention rules is in place. Antena 3, citing Europa Press and department sources, reported the suspension on May 23 after authorities said the production would remain stopped until the required enclosure was established. (antena3.com) Can Sant Joan sits in what authorities described as a high-risk area for African swine fever. The department said the fencing had not been carried out correctly to block wild animals and prevent the virus from moving beyond the risk zone, which currently covers 19 municipalities. ### What exactly did the production company fail to do? (antena3.com) The Generalitat said the production had been operating under a temporary authorization granted in February, but that approval was conditional on a proper perimeter fence and other biosecurity measures. El País reported that officials had warned the promoters on “repeated occasions” and maintained constant oversight before deciding the rules were not being followed. (antena3.com) A site visit by the Rural Agents corps found the required protections were missing, according to the Agriculture Department’s account carried by Antena 3 and other Spanish outlets. Officials said the area had not been sealed well enough to stop wildlife movement, and that hygienic protocols for people, vehicles and technical equipment were part of the required safeguards. (elpais.com) ### Was the shutdown caused by illness among cast or crew? Authorities said the issue was preventive containment, not a reported outbreak among the film crew. The government’s concern was that an open set in a restricted area could allow contact with wild fauna and undermine measures designed to contain African swine fever. El País said the animal of greatest concern in the area was the wild boar, which officials described as central to controlling the outbreak and avoiding the movement of infected animals. (antena3.com) The regional government said activities in the affected zone must take place in closed or properly fenced spaces under rules approved earlier this year. Agriculture officials said the order to stop filming was an application of those existing rules, not a special carve-out for this production. ### What is “The Last Druid,” and who is involved? (elpais.com) “The Last Druid” is an action drama starring Russell Crowe and directed by William Eubank, Spanish outlets reported. Antena 3 said the film tells the story of an emperor who discovers a solitary druid fortress, forcing an elderly Celt to take up arms to protect his family and people. (antena3.com) Trade reporting cited in search results said production was due to begin on June 8 in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, with Rose Leslie, Andreas Pietschmann and Daniel Zovatto joining the cast. That timing suggests the Sant Cugat shoot was part of the film’s Spain-based production plan. ### What happens next before cameras can roll again? (antena3.com) The Generalitat said the suspension will stay in force until the production company guarantees full compliance with the biosecurity conditions, including an effective perimeter barrier around the site. Officials have not given a restart date. Sant Cugat’s city council and Catalan agriculture minister Òscar Ordeig are also expected to meet, though no date has been announced, to discuss access and land-use restrictions tied to the outbreak. (msn.com) Until the fencing is installed and approved, the set at Can Sant Joan is expected to remain idle. (democrata.es) (antena3.com)