DC Universe’s Titans halts production following a crew member’s death

The special effects coordinator for Titans was tragically killed during production on the series.

TMZ has reported that a crew member who had been working on the DC Comics show Titans was unfortunately killed while rehearsing a stunt.

Warren Appleby, a special effects coordinator whose credits include the horror remake It and the award-winning romantic dark fantasy The Shape of Water, was involved in a fatal accident at a test facility in Toronto.

The stunt involved a car being flipped over, and it was being rehearsed in a practice area. The facility is where the crew and production team practice and stage the stunts and, once the scene is perfected, it’s replayed on location where it is filmed.

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When the car flipped over during rehearsal, a piece of flying debris struck Appleby, who had been observing the stunt at the time, and the object left him with fatal head injuries. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but he died on the way to the hospital, according to TMZ.

Production on Titans is being shut down for two days, as Canada’s Ministry of Labour is investigating. A spokesman for Warner Bros. Television and one of the executive producers made this statement:

"“We are heartbroken and devastated by the passing of our treasured colleague, special effects coordinator Warren Appleby, after an accident which occurred at a special effects facility during the preparation and testing for an upcoming shoot. Warren is beloved by all who worked with him during an impressive 25–year career in television and motion pictures. The executive producers, along with everyone, in the TITANS family, Warner Bros. Television Group and DC UNIVERSE, wish to express our deepest condolences, and heartfelt love and support, to Warren’s family and friends at this difficult time.”"

In the wake of the tragic accident, a Memorial Fund has been set up through a GoFundMe account for the late Warren Appleby. As of this posting, over $24,000 has been raised for his family, according to Comicbook.com.

Titans stars Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Teagan Croft, Lindsey Gort, Alan Ritchson, Minka Kelly, Ryan Potter, Curran Walters and Conor Leslie. Joshua Orpin, Esai Morales, Chelsea Zhang, Chella Man and Iain Glen guest star. Geoff Johns, Akiva Goldsman and Greg Berlanti write the series. Johns, Goldsman, Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Greg Walker and John Fawcett are executive producers. Weed Road Pictures and Berlanti Productions produce the series, in association with Warner Bros. Television. Titans season one is on DC Universe and Netflix internationally. Titans season two will premiere during the fall of 2019 on DC Universe.