Apple TV+ Series “Lady In The Lake” Starring Natalie Portman Halts Production After Threats From Locals In Baltimore

The upcoming Apple TV+ series Lady In The Lake has recently experienced a bit of unpleasantness during their filming that will now be known throughout the industry as The Baltimore Welcome. Currently, the production has been stationed in Baltimore for the past few months, which is probably tense enough since it’s been hot as hell up North all summer. But unfortunately, the real heat happened when a bunch of local extortionists descended upon the set asking for money. So although Apple thought they would be producing a show about an unsolved murder set in the 1960s what they ended up getting was a reboot of The Wire but in real-time.

Deadline reports the production, which casts Natalie Portman as a nosy housewife turned investigative reporter, was thrust into a hiatus after a bunch of people came to the set seeking a different kind of autograph called cash. And if their demands weren’t met they threatened physical harm when they returned the next time.

A spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department said the crew was filming around 4 PM in the downtown area when the producers were approached by several people. The group claimed if they didn’t stop filming they would come back and shoot someone, police said.

However, they said no violence would occur if they were paid an unspecified amount. Producers decided to halt filming and seek a new location. Local news outlet The Baltimore Banner reported that drug dealers attempted to extort $50,000 from the production, which producers declined to pay.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, would have been my last day on set because that doesn’t sound safe at all. And I advise Natalie to call the execs at Apple+ directly to tell them “Go get my stunt double Keira Knightley because I quit this bitch!” However, the situation is being handled by Baltimore’s finest, and the production team at Endeavor Content released a statement alleviating everyone’s fears.

“Friday afternoon, on the Baltimore set of our production Lady in the Lake, prior to the arrival of the cast and crew, per their call time, a driver on our production crew was confronted by two men, one of whom brandished a gun directed at our driver, and then they fled the location. We are working with the Baltimore Police Department as the investigation is ongoing,” the studio behind the series, Endeavor Content, said in a statement late Sunday. “The safety and security of our crew, cast and all who work across our productions is our highest priority, and we are thankful no one was injured. Production will resume with increased security measures going forward.”

Honestly, I would have just given them the $50,000 and sent them on their way. But of course, it would have been counterfeit bills so as soon as they tried to spend the money they would have ended up in jail.

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