The British government is set to reimburse crew members who were left without payment after a new Simon Pegg film project was abruptly cancelled due to severe financial difficulties. Approximately £600,000 is owed to workers on the independent period drama, titled Angels in the Asylum, which managed to film for just half a month in February 2025 before grinding to a complete halt.
Government Intervention Through Redundancy Payments Service
According to industry reports, the UK government's Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), which is funded by national insurance contributions, has informed crew members to anticipate a form of remuneration. However, it is understood that crew members do not expect to receive the full amount owed, with one anonymous source suggesting they may only recoup around a third of their outstanding wages.
The RPS exists to assist individuals who are owed money when businesses encounter financial trouble. Last year alone, the service provided aid to nearly 70,000 people left in precarious financial situations, with all payouts funded through the national insurance system.
Outrage Over Taxpayer Funding of Production Failures
"It's absolutely outrageous," one anonymous crew member told media outlets. "The government is paying up for the mistakes of the producers. This is not why I pay my taxes. Pegg and the executive producers could write this off in a second and pay everyone off."
Mission: Impossible actor Simon Pegg served as both an executive producer and lead star on the film, though he reportedly received no payment for his work and had no involvement with the project's financial management. The Independent has reached out to Pegg's representatives for comment regarding the situation.
Production Company in Administration Since 2025
A spokesperson for AITA Films, the production company that has been in administration since April 2025, stated: "Crew payments are being handled through the standard insolvency process." When the company initially entered administration, Angels in the Asylum director Rob Sorrenti and producer Heather Greenwood explained: "We have been forced into appointing an administrator as a precaution. We hope this is temporary while we continue to raise the funds for the film."
One year later, creditors are reportedly owed approximately £3.8 million, highlighting the scale of the financial collapse surrounding the production.
Film's Subject and Cast Details
Angels in the Asylum tells the true story of a group of women who were wrongly imprisoned in a mental institution in Surrey during the first half of the 20th century after being incorrectly identified as typhoid carriers. The film featured an ensemble cast including Katherine Waterston, Minnie Driver, Aurora Perrineau, Rose Williams, and Alex Jennings alongside Simon Pegg.
Budget Shortfalls and Production Halt
Industry reports indicate that when the film entered production, its budget was established at £4.9 million, but shooting commenced without all necessary funding secured. Just fifteen days into filming in February 2025, a significant budget gap emerged, forcing production to pause indefinitely.
In an email update reportedly sent by Sorrenti and Greenwood in March 2025, crew members were told: "We appreciate how difficult this is for everyone. We're incredibly sorry. We endeavour to give you all an update as soon as possible, but the situation is incredibly complex ... Please know we are in this with you, neither of us intended to be in this situation and have been personally affected by it too."
Producers' Financial Struggles and Personal Investments
A further statement from Sorrenti and Greenwood revealed: "It has taken 15 years to bring the film into production. It was devastating when we were forced to halt filming due to our second round of financing failing to materialise. After being let down, we were forced into hiatus."
"Since that time, we have been desperately trying to raise finances with the goal of addressing our outstanding obligations to both our cast and crew. We have also put some of our own funds into the project, but sadly, it hasn't been enough to rectify the situation. We remain determined to find a solution. We also want to make it very clear that we, the producers, have not been paid for our work on the production."
Pegg reportedly told his colleagues during the crisis: "We're making something really special here, something important. This is a crisis, but it's also an opportunity, and we'll be back soon." Despite these assurances, there are currently no concrete plans to resume production on the film, leaving the project's future uncertain while taxpayers cover a portion of the financial fallout.
