£600K Wages Left Unpaid

The financial failure of Angels in the Asylum is sending shockwaves across the film industry, with the UK government now stepping in to support crew members left out of pocket after the Simon Pegg-fronted period drama abruptly halted during production.

An estimated £600,000 ($800,000) in unpaid wages remains outstanding after filming was suspended just 15 days into its February 2025 schedule. The film was backed by AITA Films, which subsequently went into administration, with overall liabilities linked to the project now reaching approximately £3.8 million ($5 million).

Compensation is set to be distributed through the government’s Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), a national insurance–backed scheme designed to support workers impacted by company insolvencies. However, those involved in the production are expected to recover only a portion of their unpaid earnings. Discontent continues to build among crew, with one member remarking: “It’s absolutely outrageous. The government is paying up for the mistakes of the producers.”

Although Simon Pegg held roles as both the film’s star and an executive producer, he was not involved in its financial operations and did not receive payment. Angels in the Asylum was directed by Rob Sorrenti and produced by Heather Greenwood, who had dedicated over a decade to developing the project before a critical funding stage fell apart.

Drawing on true events in early 20th-century Surrey, the film follows women who were unjustly institutionalized after being labeled as typhoid carriers. The ensemble features Katherine Waterston, Minnie Driver, Aurora Perrineau, Rose Williams and Alex Jennings.

With a reported budget of £4.9 million, production moved forward without securing its full financing — a high-risk approach that continues to impact the UK’s independent film landscape. Industry figures such as Ken Loach have repeatedly warned about the sector’s financial instability.

There are currently no plans to resume filming.