Gladiator II stuntman sues over injuries from on-set explosion
A British stuntman is suing the production company behind Gladiator II after suffering severe burns during a pyrotechnic accident on set. The company has admitted liability for the incident, though the final damages remain under dispute.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing safety concerns and legal liabilities associated with high-budget film production stunts.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Gladiator II was released in 2024
A British stuntman and actor is suing one of the companies behind Gladiator II, saying he suffered "excruciating" burns and permanent scarring in an accident while filming a scene on a burning ship.
Edward Sarsfield was playing a dead soldier in the movie in 2023 when a gas line used for special effects exploded on the vessel, causing 20ft flames that made his costume catch fire, his legal claim said.
He "panicked and ran" before colleagues threw bottles of water over his burns, which covered about 15% of his body, including his face, his arms and hands, he said.
Sarsfield is suing August Street Films, whose defence said it admits liability for the accident, but has not made an admission about the alleged injuries or agreed to the requested £200,000 damages.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in