What started as another stunt on Jonathan Majors’ latest action movie turned into a full-blown labor showdown outside Charlotte, after the actor and a co-star unexpectedly fell through a window during a take. The unplanned six-foot drop, which did not result in life-threatening injuries, has become the flashpoint for crew members who say the production has been skirting basic safety. Below-the-line workers have now backed a walkout and are moving to organize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, leaving the shoot in limbo as tensions flare between crew and producers.
Footage shows glass giving way and a co-star needing stitches
A video of the accident, which industry outlets say was obtained by Deadline, appears to show Majors and co-star Jc Kilcoyne slamming into a pane of tempered glass that "gave way," sending both actors about six feet down to the ground. In the clip, crew members rush in to help. Kilcoyne reportedly suffered cuts to his hands that required stitches and, according to representatives, "is doing well." Majors has not made a public statement, and neither performer is believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Crew say the fall capped months of alleged safety problems
Multiple workers told reporters that the window fall was less a freak accident and more the last straw after what they describe as months of unresolved safety complaints. They allege the production skipped formal safety briefings, used hazardous locations, and saw props hit crew members, issues they say pushed them to press harder for union representation, according to AV Club. Industry sources told the outlet that more than 60 percent of below-the-line crew have signed union cards with IATSE, and that the walkout began late last week when organizers formally demanded stronger safety protocols.
Producers deny there is a strike as they hire replacements
Producers tied to the film have publicly rejected the notion that there is a legitimate strike and say they will not sit down with the organizers. One producer went so far as to say, "We don't negotiate with communists," as reported by Cleveland.com. The companies insist they have kept filming going with replacement crew members. Union advocates counter that bringing in new workers under these conditions only heightens safety risks and undermines efforts to secure collective bargaining. Organizers are calling on other local crews and unions to honor the picket lines and stay away while the dispute continues.
On-set scare highlights basic workplace rights
The fallout from the incident is also a reminder of baseline workplace protections. Federal rules require employers to provide a job site free from recognized hazards, and workers have the right to report unsafe conditions without retaliation, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration explains on its worker rights page. When safety issues are not resolved, employees can file confidential complaints with OSHA, and unions like IATSE can escalate labor actions to push for formal safety procedures and bargaining rights. For now, the production’s calendar and crew roster remain up in the air as organizers and producers trade competing claims about what is safe and what is acceptable on set.
