A producer for a controversial Hollywood film about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s response to the Christchurch terror attacks in 2019 has resigned from the project.
The producer Philippa Campbell’s resignation comes after the Andrew Niccol-directed film, titled “They Are Us,” came under fire for not focusing on the victims of the attacks.
“I’ve listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views. I now agree that the events of March 15, 2019, are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress,” she said in a statement released to the media.
New Zealand producer Philippa Campbell said she will no longer be involved in the making of a controversial film on the Christchurch terror attacks, as country's prime minister Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also distances herself from movie https://t.co/6TccfTNBeh pic.twitter.com/bJGMUS0SuG
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) June 14, 2021
“The announcement was focused on film business, and did not take enough account of the political and human context of the story in this country. It’s the complexity of that context I’ve been reflecting on that has led me to this decision,” she added.
Ardern, who is slated to be played by Australian actress Rose Byrne, said on Sunday it felt “very soon and very raw” for New Zealand, and that she was not an appropriate focus for a film about the mosque attacks.
Prod Philippa Campbell has pulled out of They Are Us. Amongst various reasons, this is really interesting: "the announcement was focused on film business, and did not take enough account of the political and human context of the story". https://t.co/BFX2EVyHww
— Kate Prior (@kateprior) June 14, 2021
“There are plenty of stories from March 15 that could be told, but I don’t consider mine to be one of them,” she said. Ardern has stated that she has no involvement with the film, which would be set in the days after the 2019 attacks in which 51 people were killed at two Christchurch mosques.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
