Robbie Williams' biopic lost "millions of dollars" because of the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Director Michael Gracey had arranged to have London's Regent Street closed down for four nights so he could film an elaborate musical number for 'Better Man' - which depicts the 50-year-old singer as a monkey - but his permits were pulled due to an official period of mourning after the monarch passed away in September 2023 and insurers refused to cover the costs.
Michael told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "On the Friday we were feeling very buoyant, because the first night of filming was Sunday night, and we got a call from the Crown Estate to tell us that the queen had just died and we wouldn't be shooting because there's 10 days of mourning.
"So we lost all of the money. There's no insurance for the death of the queen.
"People will say to you: No, there is, because it's force majeure, and you say; No, it's not. It's civil authority that shuts you down with the death of the queen, and after COVID, civil authority was capped at 250 grand payouts.
"So we lost millions of dollars, and it took another five months to get back on that street, and we had to raise the money again. And every time I watch it, I think people have no idea how close we came to that not being in the film."
The 'Greatest Showman' filmmaker admitted even securing the permits in the first place was no easy task, but Robbie's star power helped to seal the deal.
He said: “I always used to walk down Regent Street and think, this is such a great street to do a dance number on, like, Why has no one done it? And then it became very clear why no one's done it. Because shutting down that street for four nights - complete lock off - when it's a bus route as well, so you need to redirect the busses, which apparently in London, is just a no go.
"So we got told no so many times, but fortunately, the land is Crown Estate, and the royals like Robbie and so between Westminster Council and the Crown Estate and the most incredible amount of paperwork, we got to shut it down for four nights."
