Crew members quit Ben Shapiro's Montana film after learning of pro-ICE content

Crew members attached to the production of Ben Shapiro's film Pawn Shop in Livingston, Montana, quit the shoot after learning that the narrative promotes a pro-ICE message. An anonymous worker told IndieWire they were recruited under the impression the project was a "fun action movie" and were not provided substantive details about its political stance before signing a non-disclosure agreement. "If I had known this, then I would not have even accepted the job," the crew member said.

Local activist Brooklyn Wilde confirmed that about a dozen crew members departed abruptly, alleging they were "explicitly lied to" about the film’s content. The feature, produced by The Daily Wire and starring Danny Trejo and Harvey Keitel, includes a scene that mirrors the killing of Renée Good, a woman shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, which Wilde described as a slanted recreation of the incident.

Public opposition led Livingston officials to temporarily suspend filming on October 3. The town reissued permits on October 5, and production resumed the following day. Shapiro responded that the pause was "politically motivated," stating that the city commissioners halted the shoot for political reasons.

The incident has raised concerns among local businesses, with one owner describing the production as more disruptive than previous shoots and alleging violations of permit agreements. Legal actions continue in the case of Renée Good, whose family has filed civil lawsuits alleging excessive force and civil-rights violations.