HBO Criticized Over Botched Game of Thrones Stunt Footage

HBO has responded to safety concerns on the set of its Game of Thrones franchise following newly surfaced footage showing a 2014 stunt accident during Season 5 production - years before a subsequent similar incident occurred.

The unreleased video obtained by Deadline captures stunt performer Andy Pilgrim sustaining an ankle fracture during a dangerous sequence filmed for the "Hardhome" episode. While the publication chose not to release the actual footage, their reporting includes a verified screenshot that protects their source's identity.

According to 2019 legal documents reviewed by Deadline, Pilgrim's injury occurred when a 16-foot wooden wall he was riding collapsed unexpectedly. The stunt had been safely rehearsed using crane-assisted controls, but modifications made between rehearsal and filming allegedly contributed to the accident. Deadline confirms the video evidence supports Pilgrim's account.

Stunt coordinator Rowley Irlam, who designed the sequence and continues working with HBO on House of the Dragon, maintains his professional standards. "With over two decades coordinating hundreds of complex stunts across film and television, safety remains my absolute priority," Irlam stated in HBO's official response. "While rare accidents are profoundly regrettable, this resolved incident occurred eleven years ago with no official findings against me."

Irlam added: "Mr. Pilgrim continued working under my supervision for two subsequent seasons following full resolution with production. The current allegations lack merit and factual basis."

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HBO reaffirmed their confidence in Irlam: "We treat safety with utmost seriousness. Mr. Irlam's distinguished career and long-standing HBO collaborations speak to his expertise in maintaining our rigorous production standards," a network representative stated.

Pilgrim's £500,000 ($686,000) settlement with Game of Thrones producers in 2018 preceded another severe incident that year, when stunt performer Casey Michaels sustained career-ending injuries during Season 8. Her 12-foot fall into cardboard boxes resulted in a £7 million ($9.3 million) settlement in 2023 - nearly double her initial claim.

Michaels has attributed her accident to last-minute stunt changes allegedly overseen by Irlam, though the coordinator was never formally found at fault in either case.