Bill Murray accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' as complaint forces new film to halt production

Bill Murray has been accused of “inappropriate behaviour” on set and had production of his latest film suspended, according to reports.

The 71-year-old actor was due to star alongside Seth Rogan in ‘Being Mortal’ - based on Atul Gawande’s nonfiction book about end of life care, but the cast and crew has been told that “production cannot continue at this time.”

The film marks the feature-directing debut of Golden Globe-winning comedian Aziz Ansari, who, along with Rogan, is not part of the complaint.

The nature of the allegation is not known at this stage, but production insiders told Deadline and the New York Times that the Ghostbusters and Lost In Translation actor was the subject of a complaint of what was only described as “inappropriate behaviour.”

Murray has not yet responded to the claim.

In a letter to cast and crew, Searchlight Pictures, the company behind the film, said: “We know you are all concerned about the recent delays in production and want to give you an update.

“Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it. After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time.

“We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production.

“Production will be in touch with you to share details on the wrap, and we will let you know as soon as we have more information to share.”

Searchlight Pictures, which is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, has been contacted for comment.

The film is scheduled to be released next year, but it is unclear whether that will now happen. Principal photography had only started on March 28, according to Deadline.

Murray, who also starred in Groundhog Day and The Grand Budapest Hotel, has previously been accused of using “inexcusable language” on set by Charlie’s Angels actress Lucy Liu.

Liu said her clash with Murray came about during rehearsal on a scene that had recently been reworked without Murray’s knowledge.

She said that he started “to sort of hurl insults” at her, using language that “was inexcusable and unacceptable”.

Murray addressed the event in an interview with The Times, in 2009, in which he said: “Look, I will dismiss you completely if you are unprofessional and working with me.

“When our relationship is professional, and you’re not getting that done, forget it.”

Last year, Liu told Deadline: “I have nothing against Bill Murray at all. I’ve seen him since then at an SNL reunion, and he came up to me and was perfectly nice.”