The red carpet premiere of Max’s upcoming medical drama, The Pitt, has been canceled due to the ongoing wildfires and high winds wreaking havoc across Los Angeles. The decision was made Tuesday evening to scrap the event, initially set for January 8, out of an abundance of caution, as powerful winds have triggered multiple wildfires in the area, causing widespread destruction and evacuations. “Amid the chaos and destruction, the team behind The Pitt chose to cancel the premiere with the winds expected to continue,” Deadline reported.
The Pacific Design Center, located in West Hollywood, California, where the event was scheduled to take place, was set to host the cast and producers, including star and executive producer Noah Wyle (E.R., The Librarians), showrunner R. Scott Gemmill (NCIS: Los Angeles) and executive producer John Wells (Shameless, The West Wing). However, with wildfires forcing evacuations in areas like Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Altadena and Pasadena, it became clear the safety of the cast, crew and attendees had to take precedence.
The same night, Paramount canceled its premiere for the Robbie Williams (A Knights Tale, The Graham Norton Show) biopic Better Man, while the SAG Awards also called off their in-person nominations announcement. Just hours before, Universal scrapped the premiere for the Blumhouse horror film Wolf Man, and Amazon canceled the Jennifer Lopez (The Fosters, Good Trouble) feature Unstoppable.
As the destruction continues to unfold in LA, people in the entertainment industry, including several celebrities, have had their homes affected by the firestorms. Some have even been placed under mandatory evacuation orders, adding a layer of personal devastation to the ongoing natural disaster.
In terms of the show itself, The Pitt offers a hard-hitting look at the challenges faced by healthcare workers in America, focusing on the frontline heroes of a modern hospital in Pittsburgh. Alongside Wyle, the show features an ensemble cast, including Tracey Ifeachor (Doctor Who, The Red Line), Patrick Marron Ball (The Devil Below) and Isa Briones (Star Trek: Picard, The Good Place).
While The Pitt tackles timely and crucial issues surrounding healthcare workers, the disruption of its premiere highlights the ongoing challenges faced by many in the entertainment industry. As the community continues to grapple with the effects of the wildfires, it serves as a reminder of the resilience required both on-screen and off.
As the community rallies together in the wake of the destructive wildfires, the premiere of The Pitt will have to wait. While the circumstances are unfortunate, the decision to prioritize safety was undoubtedly the right call.The cast and crew look forward to rescheduling the event when the situation improves, ensuring the focus remains on the show’s important message about healthcare and resilience.