Hollywood Show Filming Halted after Drug Dealers Extort and Threaten to Shoot Crew in Baltimore

Filming in Baltimore for Natalie Portman’s new show “Lady in the Lake” was forced to shut down after drug dealers threatened to shoot crew members and tried to extort money from the Hollywood producers, according to police.

A spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department said the crew was filming around 4 pm in the downtown area when producers were approached by several drug dealers.

The crooks reportedly threatened to shoot up the set and crew if they didn’t stop filming or pay them $50,000.

The studio behind the new Apple TV series, Endeavor Content, said: “Friday afternoon, on the Baltimore set of our production Lady in the Lake, prior to the arrival of the cast and crew, per their call time, a driver on our production crew was confronted by two men, one of whom brandished a gun directed at our driver, and then they fled the location.

“We are working with the Baltimore Police Department as the investigation is ongoing.

“The safety and security of our crew, cast and all who work across our productions is our highest priority, and we are thankful no one was injured.

“Production will resume with increased security measures going forward.

“It has been a privilege filming ‘Lady in the Lake’ in Baltimore, working with its vibrant community across many areas.

“Our thanks and appreciation to the City of Baltimore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Film Office, Maryland Film Office and the Baltimore Police Department for their incredible support as we continue production in the great City of Baltimore and surrounding communities,” the studio said.

Natalie Portman’s “Lady in the Lake” has halted production after a group claimed if they didn’t stop filming they would come back and shoot someone; however, no violence would occur if producers paid them an undisclosed amount. More details: https://t.co/SOIh66B1YA pic.twitter.com/GwItETMPvE

— IndieWire (@IndieWire) August 29, 2022

The filming of the AppleTV+ series ‘Lady in the Lake,’ starring Natalie Portman, was suspended last week after a group of Baltimore locals threatened the production. https://t.co/6yhdRgKomZ

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 29, 2022

According to The Daily Mail:

Lady in the Lake is adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by Laura Lippman, and stars Portman as a journalist investigating a murder in 1960s Baltimore. 

The show also stars Lupita Nyong’o playing ‘hard-working woman juggling motherhood, many jobs, and a passionate commitment to advancing Baltimore’s Black progressive agenda,’ according to Apple.