Crew Member Dies on Set of Marvel TV Series ‘Wonder Man’

A crew member working on the Marvel TV series “Wonder Man” has died after falling from a rafter at Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, February 6.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends, and our support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this accident,” a Marvel spokesperson said in a statement to IndieWire. Production is now down on the series for the day.

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“Wonder Man” was not filming on Tuesday, but the crew member, a rigger, was working on set. A California Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigation is underway.

The crew member’s name has not yet been released as the family is still being notified, but we will update when the information is made public.

IATSE, the union that supports below-the-line workers, shared this statement: “Everyone in the IA family is shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic loss. We are working to support our member’s family, and his fellow members and colleagues,” said union president Matthew D. Loeb. “Safety on set is our highest priority and we will assist Cal/OSHA in their investigation in any way that we can. If you feel unsafe on set for any reason, members can call the IATSE Safety Hotline at 844-422-9273 or use our safety info app.”

IndieWire has reached out to IATSE Local 728, which handles motion picture set lighting, for additional comment.

The exact nature of the accident involving the “Wonder Man” rigger is unclear. But the term “rigger” generally refers to work being done off production. Grips will rig a stage for Set Lighting and other crafts, including the overhead mounting of truss, scaffold, or pipe. For Set Lighting, crew will then mount light fixtures to the structure, and it usually involves running cable, hanging lamps, or other tasks that happen before the production portion of the crew arrives to set.

According to the official role definition for a Rigging Technician as provided by IATSE, “the Rigging Technician works directly under the supervision of the Chief Rigging Technician and/or Chief Rigging Electrician, and/or Sub-Foreman according to their work assignment, in the safe and efficient electrical and data rigging of the set. The Rigging Technician shall have a broad knowledge of all lighting fixtures on a production, and their operation and troubleshooting; they shall have a working knowledge of electrical theory and power demands on set; and, they shall have a working knowledge of overhead rigging and safety fundamentals.”

“Wonder Man” stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a wealthy industrialist rival to Tony Stark’s Stark Industries. Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) directs. The Disney+ series, first announced in June 2022, had completed some filming but was delayed by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

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