Game of Thrones is well known for its epic battle sequences. A standard for the show was to boast an incredible, large-scale battle scene every year, on par with a big screen movie. The Battle of Blackwater, the Battle of the Bastards and the clashes in the final season were always amazing.
The must-watch extras on the various season Blu-Ray sets highlight the care that goes into these sequences. That’s no surprise, given they involve hundreds of extras, numerous cameras, and the possibility of things going wrong. Well, it looks like something did.
While there had been reports of the odd minor injury over the years on the show, Game of Thrones and HBO are now under fire thanks to newly uncovered evidence of a serious injury suffered by a stunt worker that sparked a major lawsuit.
What happened in “Hardhome?”
Season 5’s “Hardhome” was a major highlight of that year,...
The must-watch extras on the various season Blu-Ray sets highlight the care that goes into these sequences. That’s no surprise, given they involve hundreds of extras, numerous cameras, and the possibility of things going wrong. Well, it looks like something did.
While there had been reports of the odd minor injury over the years on the show, Game of Thrones and HBO are now under fire thanks to newly uncovered evidence of a serious injury suffered by a stunt worker that sparked a major lawsuit.
What happened in “Hardhome?”
Season 5’s “Hardhome” was a major highlight of that year,...
- 7/7/2025
- by Michael Weyer
- Winter Is Coming
HBO is once again defending its stunt safety on the set of Game of Thrones, after a video of a set accident that occurred in 2014 was leaked. Andy Pilgrim, who served as a stunt performer on the HBO series, fractured his ankle while working on season 5 episode "Hardhome." He later sued HBO subsidiary Fire & Blood Productions, settling for £500,000, or $686,000.
Deadline has now received and reported on footage of the incident, which came from Wayne Michaels — the father of Casey Michaels, another stunt performer injured while working on Game of Thrones. Although the outlet has not shared the video publicly, it described its contents, which appear to be in line with Pilgrim's recollection of events.
Per Deadline, Pilgrim's legal complaint alleged that the stunt causing his injury had been altered in the time between rehearsal and filming. The scene being filmed reportedly involved a 16-foot wooden wall, which stunt performers were...
Deadline has now received and reported on footage of the incident, which came from Wayne Michaels — the father of Casey Michaels, another stunt performer injured while working on Game of Thrones. Although the outlet has not shared the video publicly, it described its contents, which appear to be in line with Pilgrim's recollection of events.
Per Deadline, Pilgrim's legal complaint alleged that the stunt causing his injury had been altered in the time between rehearsal and filming. The scene being filmed reportedly involved a 16-foot wooden wall, which stunt performers were...
- 6/27/2025
- by Amanda Mullen
- ScreenRant
A video showing a stunt going terribly wrong on the set of Game of Thrones has started a wave of concern about how HBO handles safety. The clip, shared with Deadline, shows stunt performer Andy Pilgrim getting hurt during a shoot back in 2014 for Season 5’s episode Hardhome.
In the video, Pilgrim is standing on a large wooden wall, about 16 feet tall. It suddenly tips forward and slams into the ground. He was supposed to fall with it safely. Instead, he ended up with a badly broken ankle.
Pilgrim later said that during rehearsals, the wall was lowered slowly using a crane. But during the actual shoot, the stunt was changed. The wall dropped without control, bounced when it hit the floor, and caused the injury. He also said there were more performers on the wall during filming than during the practice run, and they were placed higher up.
Related:...
In the video, Pilgrim is standing on a large wooden wall, about 16 feet tall. It suddenly tips forward and slams into the ground. He was supposed to fall with it safely. Instead, he ended up with a badly broken ankle.
Pilgrim later said that during rehearsals, the wall was lowered slowly using a crane. But during the actual shoot, the stunt was changed. The wall dropped without control, bounced when it hit the floor, and caused the injury. He also said there were more performers on the wall during filming than during the practice run, and they were placed higher up.
Related:...
- 6/27/2025
- by Hrvoje Milakovic
- Comic Basics
A leaked video showing a stunt gone wrong during the filming of Game of Thrones has led to renewed questions about how safe the sets really are on HBO productions. The clip, obtained by Deadline, shows stuntman Andy Pilgrim getting seriously injured back in 2014 while working on Season 5’s episode Hardhome.
In the 30-second footage, Pilgrim is seen on a massive 16-foot wooden wall that tips forward suddenly and crashes to the ground. He ends up with a broken ankle. The wall was supposed to be lowered gently using a crane during filming, just like it had been during rehearsal.
But according to Pilgrim, that’s not what happened on the actual shoot day. He said the wall dropped in an “uncontrolled and ungoverned fashion,” which caused it to bounce and badly injure him. More people were involved during the actual shoot compared to rehearsal, and they were placed higher up on the wall.
In the 30-second footage, Pilgrim is seen on a massive 16-foot wooden wall that tips forward suddenly and crashes to the ground. He ends up with a broken ankle. The wall was supposed to be lowered gently using a crane during filming, just like it had been during rehearsal.
But according to Pilgrim, that’s not what happened on the actual shoot day. He said the wall dropped in an “uncontrolled and ungoverned fashion,” which caused it to bounce and badly injure him. More people were involved during the actual shoot compared to rehearsal, and they were placed higher up on the wall.
- 6/27/2025
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Exclusive: HBO has continued to defend stunt safety standards on the Game of Thrones franchise after Deadline obtained footage of a second on-set accident following our report about the $9.6M payout to performer Casey Michaels.
The 30-second video captures the moment that stunt performer Andy Pilgrim, whose credits include Harry Potter and The Batman, suffered a serious ankle fracture in November 2014 during production on Season 5 episode Hardhome.
Four years later, Pilgrim sued Fire & Blood Productions, the HBO subsidiary responsible for producing Game of Thrones. He later settled his complaint for £500,000, according to the stunt pro’s barrister. Pilgrim declined to comment.
Deadline has seen a copy of Pilgrim’s original legal complaint, which lays out his account of the accident, including how the stunt was changed between rehearsal and filming. His allegations bear a striking resemblance to those made by Michaels, who suffered a career-ending ankle break on the final season of Game of Thrones,...
The 30-second video captures the moment that stunt performer Andy Pilgrim, whose credits include Harry Potter and The Batman, suffered a serious ankle fracture in November 2014 during production on Season 5 episode Hardhome.
Four years later, Pilgrim sued Fire & Blood Productions, the HBO subsidiary responsible for producing Game of Thrones. He later settled his complaint for £500,000, according to the stunt pro’s barrister. Pilgrim declined to comment.
Deadline has seen a copy of Pilgrim’s original legal complaint, which lays out his account of the accident, including how the stunt was changed between rehearsal and filming. His allegations bear a striking resemblance to those made by Michaels, who suffered a career-ending ankle break on the final season of Game of Thrones,...
- 6/27/2025
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Game of Thrones’ The Battle of Winterfell was distressing to watch, but a stuntwoman in the scene dressed as a wight had a more horrible experience after she injured herself while performing a critical stunt. This injury left her unable to walk and move properly, and the worst part was that it robbed her of a career that she enjoyed so much.
Casey Michaels, the daughter of stunt performers Wayne Michaels and Tracey Eddon, came forward to tell her story and to reveal the dark side of working in a profession where safety is always at risk.
Casey Michaels breaks her silence on Game of Thrones accident
Professional stuntwoman Casey Michaels has been an active person since childhood, and as the child of two legendary stunt figures, it was already expected that she would follow in their footsteps. Having been in the industry since she was 14, she has worked on several popular franchises,...
Casey Michaels, the daughter of stunt performers Wayne Michaels and Tracey Eddon, came forward to tell her story and to reveal the dark side of working in a profession where safety is always at risk.
Casey Michaels breaks her silence on Game of Thrones accident
Professional stuntwoman Casey Michaels has been an active person since childhood, and as the child of two legendary stunt figures, it was already expected that she would follow in their footsteps. Having been in the industry since she was 14, she has worked on several popular franchises,...
- 5/20/2025
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
Show-stopping stunts have long been as important to the James Bond movie formula as gadgets, villains, and the appropriate amount of workday martinis. While the early Connery movies didn’t emphasize such stunts quite as much as future installments did, audiences soon came to expect in the 1970s to see Bond put his life on the line in some incredible stunt sequence for queen, country, and our entertainment.
While other action franchises have certainly raised the bar for film stunts since then, there is a charm to the best Bond stunts that can’t easily be replicated. They’re conceptually creative, they’re often done practically, and they have gradually helped shape the considerable mythology of the world’s greatest spy. They’re as stylish as an expertly tailored suit and as dangerous as an assignment from M. These are the best James Bond stunts ever.
10. The Big Dam Bungee...
While other action franchises have certainly raised the bar for film stunts since then, there is a charm to the best Bond stunts that can’t easily be replicated. They’re conceptually creative, they’re often done practically, and they have gradually helped shape the considerable mythology of the world’s greatest spy. They’re as stylish as an expertly tailored suit and as dangerous as an assignment from M. These are the best James Bond stunts ever.
10. The Big Dam Bungee...
- 5/4/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Cinema is known for its grand spectacle, with audiences mesmerized by the film industry's most explosive scenes. Although many of these stupendous scenes are now created through CGI, some of the best movies have utilized more practical means. Among the most impressive techniques for bringing these astounding sequences to life is the use of stunt performers.
Related: 10 Dangerous Movie Stunts That Almost Went Badly
With Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny's release fast approaching, moviegoers are discussing some of their favorite stunts. These death-defying performances have thrilled audiences, who are left amazed by the finished product. The best movie stunts can often prove to be the biggest highlights of their respective films, drawing viewers in with their bold and epic achievements.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
Tom Cruise's commitment to Mission Impossible knows no bounds, with the star willing to place his life on the line for the franchise.
Related: 10 Dangerous Movie Stunts That Almost Went Badly
With Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny's release fast approaching, moviegoers are discussing some of their favorite stunts. These death-defying performances have thrilled audiences, who are left amazed by the finished product. The best movie stunts can often prove to be the biggest highlights of their respective films, drawing viewers in with their bold and epic achievements.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
Tom Cruise's commitment to Mission Impossible knows no bounds, with the star willing to place his life on the line for the franchise.
- 5/6/2023
- by Sean Bassett
- CBR
A new report states that “Game of Thrones” stuntwoman Casey Michaels filed a lawsuit in January 2021 against Fire & Blood Productions, the HBO-owned U.K. subsidiary for the hit series.
Michaels alleges that she suffered a “serious fracture dislocation to her left ankle” while filming the climatic Battle of Winterfell scene during the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” in February 2018. Variety reported that the court documents list the legal claim as being worth almost 5 million in damages.
Michaels, along with a group of 28 stunt performers dressed as Wights, aka zombies controlled by White Walkers, were allegedly instructed by production to walk off a 12-foot high roof “as if unaware of the drop, in keeping with the zombie-like nature of the Wights” during Episode 3. The lawsuit lists that groups of stunt performers fell onto a box rig comprised of cardboard boxes and mats.
“By their nature, however, the cardboard...
Michaels alleges that she suffered a “serious fracture dislocation to her left ankle” while filming the climatic Battle of Winterfell scene during the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” in February 2018. Variety reported that the court documents list the legal claim as being worth almost 5 million in damages.
Michaels, along with a group of 28 stunt performers dressed as Wights, aka zombies controlled by White Walkers, were allegedly instructed by production to walk off a 12-foot high roof “as if unaware of the drop, in keeping with the zombie-like nature of the Wights” during Episode 3. The lawsuit lists that groups of stunt performers fell onto a box rig comprised of cardboard boxes and mats.
“By their nature, however, the cardboard...
- 5/10/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
A stunt performer injured during the production of “Game of Thrones” is suing the series makers.
Casey Michaels was working on the eighth and final season of the hit HBO show in February 2018 when she suffered a “serious fracture dislocation to her left ankle,” according to court documents seen by Variety. She has filed a claim against Fire & Blood Productions, an HBO-owned U.K. subsidiary for “Game of Thrones.”
According to the court documents, the claim, which was filed in January 2021, is worth almost 5 million. If the parties do not settle, the case is likely to be heard before a judge sometime next summer.
The injury occurred when Michaels, dressed as a Wight (the zombies controlled by White Walkers that appear in later seasons), was filming a scene in episode 3 in which a large group of Wights climb the castle battlements, clamber onto a sloped roof inside and walk off...
Casey Michaels was working on the eighth and final season of the hit HBO show in February 2018 when she suffered a “serious fracture dislocation to her left ankle,” according to court documents seen by Variety. She has filed a claim against Fire & Blood Productions, an HBO-owned U.K. subsidiary for “Game of Thrones.”
According to the court documents, the claim, which was filed in January 2021, is worth almost 5 million. If the parties do not settle, the case is likely to be heard before a judge sometime next summer.
The injury occurred when Michaels, dressed as a Wight (the zombies controlled by White Walkers that appear in later seasons), was filming a scene in episode 3 in which a large group of Wights climb the castle battlements, clamber onto a sloped roof inside and walk off...
- 5/10/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
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