Livingston Halts Daily Wire Film Over ICE Controversy and Safety Concerns
The Livingston City Commission in Montana has temporarily suspended filming permits for 'Pawn Shop,' a new action film produced by Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire and Dallas Sonnier’s Bonfire Legend. The halt follows a special meeting on October 4, where commissioners unanimously voted to pause the permit pending a legal review. Residents and local businesses cited concerns over unannounced stunts, including pyrotechnics and blank gunfire, as well as the film’s pro-ICE narrative, which appears to dramatize the fatal shooting of Renée Good in Minneapolis. The production, which was scheduled to run through October 10, has faced daily complaints from locals, including the Livingston Food Resource Center, which reported that armed security guards blocked access for clients. While the city had approved the permit with only 12 days' notice, officials noted they were unaware of the film's political content until protests began. The production is not under an IATSE contract, though it holds a conditional start with SAG-AFTRA.