HBO is now defending its on-set safety protocols for the Game of Thrones franchise following the emergence of a video revealing a stunt mishap dating back to November 2014, during production of season 5—years ahead of a later, comparable incident.
In footage acquired by Deadline—which the outlet did not publish, instead sharing a screenshot to protect the source—stunt performer Andy Pilgrim can be seen fracturing his ankle during a high-risk stunt filmed for the season 5 episode “Hardhome.”
According to legal documents from 2019 reviewed by Deadline, Pilgrim claims his ankle was broken while performing a stunt that involved riding a 16-foot wooden wall as it collapsed. The stunt had initially been rehearsed using a crane to lower the wall safely, but was altered after rehearsal and before filming, leaving Pilgrim at risk. Deadline asserts the video it obtained aligns with Pilgrim’s account.
Rowley Irlam, the stunt coordinator who designed and executed the stunt, continues to stand by his work. He remains employed by HBO as a stunt coordinator for the Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon.
“With more than two decades of experience as a stunt coordinator, I have managed hundreds of complex stunt sequences across film and television with an emphasis on safety,” Irlam stated in an HBO-released declaration. “We approach every stunt sequence with the highest regard for crew and performer well-being. On the rare occasion an injury happens, it affects everyone involved.”
He continued, “The incident involving Mr. Pilgrim occurred 11 years ago. It was resolved between Mr. Pilgrim and the production, with no rulings or findings placing personal fault on me. Following the incident, Mr. Pilgrim continued in my team for two more seasons, serving as both a stunt performer and safety professional. The claims you reference are false and unsubstantiated.”
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The network has also voiced its support. “We treat these issues with the utmost seriousness. Mr. Irlam is an acclaimed and trusted stunt coordinator with a long track record on HBO productions,” an HBO spokesperson said. “Given the physical intensity of his role, we maintain full confidence in his professionalism and commitment to upholding rigorous safety standards across our productions.”
Four years after Pilgrim’s accident, he settled out of court with Fire & Blood Productions, the company behind Game of Thrones, for £500,000 (approximately $686,000). That same year, in 2018, another stunt performer, Casey Michaels, sustained a career-ending ankle injury during season 8 after falling from a 12-foot ledge into a pit filled with cardboard boxes.
Irlam also supervised the stunt that ended Michaels’ career. She asserts that changes between rehearsal and execution contributed to her injury. In 2023, Michaels resolved her own lawsuit, receiving £7 million (about $9.3 million) from the network—a notable increase over the £4 million ($5.3 million) she had initially sought.
