Amazon denies claims Nicole Kidman ‘walked off the production’ of her new series Expats after ‘disagreement with director Lulu Wang’
Amazon Studios has denied claims Nicole Kidman walked off the production of her new series Expats.
On Sunday, Hong Kong online news publication HK01 claimed the actress had left production after a disagreement with series director Lulu Wang.
But an Amazon spokesperson told Variety, Nicole wrapped filming as scheduled and didn’t leave early.
Denied: Amazon has denied claims Nicole Kidman (pictured) ‘walked off the production’ of her new series Expats after ‘disagreement with series director Lulu Wang’
‘Nicole wrapped as scheduled, she did not leave early. She always had other projects she was committed to,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The production is not stalled or on hiatus, it was always going to continue shooting without her.’
Nicole flew from Sydney to Hong Kong via private jet on August 12 ahead of filming her new Amazon Prime series Expats, and was staying at a rented mansion in the city’s Peak district.
Claims: On Sunday, Hong Kong online news publication HK01 claimed the actress had left production after a disagreement with series director Lulu Wang (pictured)
However, she stirred controversy two days later after photos surfaced of Kidman shopping at a designer boutique in the city’s Central district with her bodyguard.
Hong Kong mandates that international travellers must complete at least seven days of quarantine upon arrival, followed by ‘self-monitoring’.
However, the Hong Kong government confirmed it waived these tough quarantine rules for Kidman.
‘She had other projects she is committed to’: But an Amazon spokesperson told Variety, Nicole wrapped filming as scheduled and didn’t leave early
In a statement to HK01, Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said that Kidman received an exemption from mandatory quarantine ‘to carry out designated professional work’.
As part of her exemption, Nicole was required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, stay in a ‘designated residence’, get tested for the virus regularly and provide ‘work-related itineraries’, according to Dimsumdaily Hong Kong.
The news of Kidman’s exemption sparked backlash on social media, with several Hong Kong locals complaining about the apparent ‘double standard’ enjoyed by the celebrity visitor.
Project: Nicole flew from Sydney to Hong Kong via private jet on August 12 ahead of filming her Amazon Prime series Expats, and was staying at a rented mansion in the city’s Peak district