Around 150 people were on the set when large lights fell from the roof and caused the staged fire to spiral out of control.
- Feb 16, 2017
AceShowbiz - A real blaze erupted on the set of "The Greatest Showman" which stars Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. The cast and crew were filming a dramatic final scene, which features Jackman's P.T. Barnum carrying his assistant (Efron) from a burning house, in a specially constructed building on early Sunday morning, February 12.
A staged fire got out of hand when six large lights intended to boost the glow of a fire fell from the roof of the building, causing the blaze to spiral out of control. According to New York Post, Jackman was one of 150 people who were on the set when the accident happened.
Fortunately, five retired firefighters working as extras quickly took action, attaching prop hoses fitted with antique-style nozzles to nearby hydrants to try to battle the blaze. Around 100 members of the FDNY rushed to the set at Flushing Avenue and Navy Street, but they struggled to put the fire under control because it had grown so huge, said sources.
A source told the site, "Fire was blowing out through the roof. It blew right through the roof and melted a lot of really large light fixtures on the top." Another source added, "The fire was tremendous. They used too much accelerant, and the whole building burnt down."
A rep for 20th Century Fox, which is developing the project, said in a statement to PEOPLE, "There was a small fire on the set of 'The Greatest Showman'. The fire was quickly contained and no one was injured. The main cast had already wrapped when the fire occurred." No one was injured in the blaze and a rep for Efron has confirmed that "he's not hurt."
"The Greatest Showman" is a biopic about P.T. Barnum, a showman with a penchant for hoaxing a gullible public as he creates the three-ring circus that made him famous. The film also focuses on his infatuation with singer Jenny Lind, the so-called Swedish Nightingale.
Michelle Williams also stars as Barnum's wife Charity and Rebecca Ferguson (II) is cast as Jenny Lind, a singer whose tour's promoted by Barnum. Michael Gracey is directing the flick, which is slated for a release on Christmas Day (December 25) this year in the United States.
