Daily Wire's 'Pawn Shop' filming halted in Montana town

Production on Daily Wire's immigration-enforcement drama working-titled "Pawn Shop" has been temporarily halted in Livingston, Montana. The pause followed a Special City Commission Meeting on Saturday, according to Variety.

The pause is temporary. The Livingston Commission ordered an immediate temporary suspension of Bonfire Pawn Shop LLC's filming permit. The suspension stays in place pending a legal opinion from the city attorney, with the matter to return to the commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 5.

The decision followed complaints from residents. They said the shoot had harmed local businesses, including the city's sole food bank, and involved hazardous stunts without proper notification.

The Livingston Food Resource Center said it was not notified of plans to film "Pawn Shop". The centre reported pantry attendance fell 17% on Tuesday to an eight-week low, against a typical volume of 90 to more than 100 households per day.

"Pawn Shop" is described as the working title, a temporary title used during production, for a fiction film about immigration enforcement set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The production in Livingston is linked to conservative media personality Ben Shapiro. It was reported to include an opening scene depicting the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an officer of ICE, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that enforces immigration law, in Minnesota earlier in 2026.

Locals had organised a protest against the production days before filming was halted. The labour arrangements on the shoot have also drawn attention. The production is not under a contract with IATSE, the union that represents film crews, and is operating under a "conditional start" with SAG, the actors' union, according to Deadline.

Residents also raised concerns about effects used on location. The production allegedly used blank gunshots, pyrotechnics and a staged car wreck.