Runner is racing toward the finish line — but not without some off-camera drama. Industry Entertainment manager and producer Dan Spilo has been fired for cause from the upcoming indie action thriller, following an incident of alleged inappropriate behavior on set. According to multiple sources confirmed by Deadline, Spilo’s dismissal came after an HR investigation into his conduct, which reportedly included bullying and yelling at crew members. At the same time, the film’s star Alan Ritchson — best known for playing Jack Reacher on Amazon Prime Video‘s smash hit Reacher — cut ties with Spilo as his manager. The decision came about a week ago, and sources say Spilo was quickly sent home from the Australian set, which is currently filming in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
This isn’t the first time Spilo has made headlines. Reality TV fans might remember him as the first contestant ever to be removed from Survivor, during the Island of the Idols season. He was ejected from the game after allegations of inappropriate physical contact surfaced on camera and behind the scenes. Two female contestants expressed discomfort about Spilo’s overly familiar behavior, and while he initially remained on the show, a later complaint from a crew member led to his removal.
Spilo has declined to comment on the current incident, but sources close to him acknowledged a “heated exchange” on set. They offered a more sympathetic view of the situation, saying Spilo voluntarily left the production for the good of the project and noting he was dealing with family health issues in Israel, which he flew to immediately after leaving Runner. Still, production insiders caution that Spilo’s behavior on Runner was not an isolated incident. As one source put it: “Survivor wasn’t a one-off.”
What Is ‘Runner’ About?
Despite the drama, Runner continues filming, with just a week or two left in the shoot. Directed by Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Expend4bles), the film stars Ritchson as Hank Malone, a highly skilled courier tasked with transporting a vital organ to save the life of a young girl. Naturally, things go off the rails when shadowy forces try to stop the delivery. Ritchson stars opposite Owen Wilson, in what director Waugh described as an exciting new duo for the big screen: “This pairing is something I believe audiences have been hungry for, and we strive to achieve the unexpected from the page-turner script that Miles and Tommy delivered.”
The film also stars Leila George, Rodrigo Santoro, and Sullivan Stapleton. Producers include Todd Garner of Broken Road Productions, Mark Fasano of Nickel City Pictures, Jeffrey Greenstein of A Higher Standard, and Lauren Gennawey and Matthew Goldberg as executive producers. Spilo, though once part of that producing team, is now no longer involved.
via Collider