The British government's Redundancy Payments Service is compensating some crew members of the collapsed film Angels in the Asylum, which starred Simon Pegg. The film halted production in February 2025, leaving around £600,000 ($800,000) owed to employees. The service, funded by National Insurance contributions, is paying a portion of the debts, but not the full amounts.
One crew member, expecting only about a third of their owed pay, expressed anger: “It’s absolutely outrageous. The government is paying up for the mistakes of the producers. This is not why I pay my taxes.” Pegg, an executive producer who was not paid for his role, was not involved in the film's finances.
The film was produced by AITA Films Limited, which filed for administration in April 2025. Administrators Kallis Insolvency Practitioners reported the company owes approximately £3.8 million ($5 million) to creditors. A spokesperson said crew payments are being handled through the insolvency process.
Among creditors is Brandhouse Global Limited, which provided £486,966 in interim financing after anticipated funding from Parkland Pictures did not materialise. Parkland CEO John Cairns stated his company had no agreement to finance the film beyond sales agency.
Angels in the Asylum, inspired by true events, co-stars Katherine Waterston, Minnie Driver, and others. It centres on women forcibly confined in Surrey's Long Grove Asylum in the 1930s as typhoid carriers. Despite earlier hopes of a rescue investor, a spokesperson said remounting the film is not currently planned.
