Fast & Furious 9 stuntman Joe Watts is reportedly in an “induced coma” after suffering a “serious head injury” on the set of the film at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios in the United Kingdom.
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) notes that Watts suffered the “serious head injury” after a major fall on Monday. The fall reportedly occurred during a scene in which Watts leaped from a balcony while attached to a wire. Following the fall, Warner Bros. shut down production and paremedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene.
A spokeswoman for Universal stated, “We had an injury on the set of Fast 9 today in Leavesden with one of our stuntmen.” She added, “We have halted production for the day to focus on this situation.”
Watts was eventually airlifted from the set and transported to the Royal London Hospital according to the BBC.
Hertfordshire police responded to the scene and issued a statement, “The incident has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive and there will be no further police involvement.”
A source close to Watt’s fiance told THR that he was “stable but in an induced coma.”
Watts is a veteran stuntman whose work has been featured in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ready Player One, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Game of Thrones, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and in the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984.
Fast and Furious 9 is expected to be released on May 22, 2020. The film will see Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Helen Mirren and Charlize Theron reprise their roles. It will also star Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel.