Jonathan Majors’ Action Film Plagued by Safety Violations and Crew Walkouts Over Dangerous Conditions

On March 26, crew members on the South Carolina set of *Run Hide Fight Infidels*—Jonathan Majors’ upcoming action thriller from The Daily Wire—walked off the job after a cascade of safety violations culminated in a stunt accident that sent Majors and co-star JC Kilcoyne plummeting six feet through a window. The incident, captured on video and shared with *Deadline*, exposed deeper concerns about the production’s disregard for industry safety standards, including mold-infested locations, unsecured props, and the absence of basic production protocols. What began as a dispute over union health and pension contributions escalated into a full-blown strike backed by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), with over 60% of the crew signing union cards to demand collective bargaining rights.

Why the Jonathan Majors Film Set Walkout Signals a Broader Labor Crisis in Hollywood

The walkout on *Run Hide Fight Infidels* is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend of labor disputes in Hollywood, where non-union productions are increasingly facing pushback from below-the-line workers—crew members, electricians, and stunt performers—who are demanding better pay, safer conditions, and union representation. While major studios have long operated under union contracts, independent producers like those behind *Run Hide Fight Infidels* have resisted joining IATSE or SAG-AFTRA agreements, leaving crews vulnerable to exploitation. The strike comes amid a wave of industry strikes in 2023 and 2024, where unions have successfully negotiated better terms, raising the bar for non-union sets. Dallas Sonnier, co-founder of Bonfire Legend and one of the film’s producers, dismissed the strike as illegitimate, telling *Deadline*, 'The entire industry is in freefall due to strikes, and now that their members are out of work, they’re trying to sabotage the few people who are still producing.'

The Stunt Accident That Sparked the Strike

The immediate catalyst for the walkout was a stunt gone wrong on March 20, when Majors and Kilcoyne filmed a scene requiring a window to be shattered. According to multiple crew members, the production replaced the window with a single sheet of loosely fitted tempered glass, which was not secured in the frame. During the take, both the glass and the actors fell approximately six feet to the ground. Kilcoyne suffered cuts requiring stitches on both hands, while Majors escaped injury. A crew member who arrived after the incident told *Deadline* on condition of anonymity, 'When I got there, nobody mentioned anything about people falling out the window…It seemed weird to me.' Kilcoyne’s representative confirmed in a statement that the actor 'did not feel unsafe on set and continues to have a positive experience working on the project,' adding that he was 'taken care of immediately by production.' The incident, however, exposed a pattern of negligence that had been festering since production began.

A Pattern of Safety Failures and Unprofessional Conditions

The window incident was merely the most visible symptom of a production that crew members described as operating in chaos. Several workers reported unsecured props falling onto set, including a rigged tree branch that struck the set medic. Another crew member with decades of experience recounted witnessing 'no normal production activities,' such as the absence of a unit production manager or even a formal crew list. 'You couldn’t find anybody. You didn’t know who they were,' they said. To compensate, crew members began circulating an informal 'black market' crew list to identify colleagues. The lack of structure extended to stunt coordination and armory protocols; sources revealed that the production had been using airsoft guns for stunts without proper safety meetings with department heads or writer-director Kyle Rankin, who could not be reached for comment.

Toxic Locations and Questionable Hiring Practices

Beyond safety hazards, crew members raised alarms about the production’s disregard for basic health standards. Production initially insisted on using a location despite warnings from a contractor that the building likely contained asbestos and should undergo proper testing. After crew members discovered black mold during their own inspection, producers relented and agreed to a location change—but not before exposing workers to potential long-term health risks. 'They didn’t really care about the long-term effects on the crew,' one former set laborer told *Deadline*. 'I don’t think it even crossed their minds, because they’re so inept.' The production’s hiring practices also came under scrutiny, particularly regarding special effects supervisor Chris Bailey. In 2021, Bailey pleaded guilty to illegal possession of explosives on a movie set, a charge that led to his prohibition from handling explosive materials, according to a Department of Justice press release. When contacted by *Deadline*, Bailey dismissed the incident as a 'paperwork infraction,' stating, 'no pyro was mishandled.'

The Producers’ Defiant Response and the Fight for Unionization

Despite the mounting evidence of unsafe conditions, the producers behind *Run Hide Fight Infidels*—including Bonfire Legend’s Dallas Sonnier—have adopted a combative stance against the strike. In a statement to *Deadline*, Sonnier accused the crew of attempting to 'sabotage the few people who are still producing,' adding, 'We don’t negotiate with communists.' This rhetoric reflects a broader resistance among some independent producers to unionization, even as IATSE has intervened to negotiate collective bargaining agreements for non-union crews. Sonnier’s dismissive remarks followed an earlier statement where he boasted, 'We’re too busy being bad asses, blowing sh*t up, flying helicopters, and killing movie terrorists to concern ourselves with four assholes with signs on the sidewalk and their illegitimate 'strike.'' However, *Deadline* has confirmed that IATSE International has officially communicated with the production regarding the strike, signaling that the union views the walkout as legitimate. The irony is not lost on industry observers: while the film is produced under a SAG-AFTRA contract for above-the-line talent like Majors, the below-the-line crew is denied the same protections, a common point of contention in Hollywood labor disputes.

The Broader Implications for Hollywood’s Labor Landscape

The standoff on *Run Hide Fight Infidels* highlights a critical juncture for Hollywood’s labor movement. As streaming services and independent studios increasingly bypass union contracts to cut costs, crews are pushing back harder than ever, using strikes and public pressure to demand change. The resistance from producers like Sonnier reflects a fear that unionization could erode profit margins, but it also risks alienating the very workers whose labor makes productions possible. The strike’s success could set a precedent for other non-union sets, while a failure to resolve the dispute may lead to further disruptions in an industry already grappling with declining production volumes and rising costs. Meanwhile, the film’s future remains uncertain. While production continues in some capacity—with the union discouraging replacements from crossing picket lines—the damage to the project’s reputation and the safety concerns raised by crew members may have lasting consequences.

Key Takeaways: What This Strike Reveals About Hollywood’s Safety Crisis

• A stunt accident involving Jonathan Majors and JC Kilcoyne exposed dangerous safety lapses on the set of *Run Hide Fight Infidels*, including a window made of unsecured tempered glass that shattered during filming.
• Crew members walked off the job on March 26 after reporting mold-infested locations, unsecured props, and the absence of basic production protocols like crew lists and safety meetings.
• Over 60% of the crew signed union cards to demand an IATSE collective bargaining agreement, but producers have refused, with Dallas Sonnier dismissing the strike as an attempt to 'sabotage' production.
• The special effects supervisor, Chris Bailey, has a prior conviction for illegal explosives possession, raising questions about the production’s adherence to safety regulations.
• The strike reflects a growing labor movement in Hollywood, where non-union crews are increasingly fighting for safer conditions, fair pay, and union representation amid industry-wide disputes.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Jonathan Majors Film Set Strike