'How do I look Matt in the face?': Toxic chemicals 'were used on set of Great Wall in China... and film's star Damon may have been exposed'

By Mike Larkin For Dailymail.com

Published: 01:47 EST, 20 December 2016 | Updated: 05:49 EST, 20 December 2016

Hot air? It has been claimed Matt Damon may have been exposed to toxic fumes while filming The Great Wall in China

It is the film set in the picturesque and unspoiled location of medieval China.

But it has been claimed toxic chemicals were used on the set of forthcoming film The Great Wall.

And it seems the movie's A-list star Matt Damon may have even been exposed after it was revealed a producer expressed concerns about the fact he would not be wearing a mask during shooting.

A crew member told the Wall Street Journal they were exposed to toxic substances banned in the United States while filming in China.

The insider said: 'I nearly passed out from the fumes that came out of a spray can.'

And a co-producer allegedly raised the issue of safety during an on-set meeting, saying: 'How do I look Matt Damon in the face when he's the only one not wearing a mask?'

There were also supposedly issues with lax standards during while the set was being built for the $150 million film.

Key grip Guy Michelett said, 'You had to be a policeman,' and claimed harnesses were routinely not worn by workers while climbing scaffolding to erect lights.

A source close to the production told The Wrap Mr Michelett was not employed when shooting began.

It’s not known if he only worked during pre-production. Matt Damon has yet to comment on the allegations. 

Most of the movie was filmed in the Qingdao region of China, where the Dalian Wanda corporation is building an $8.2 billion, 408-acre studio. It will also feature a Universal Studios-esque resort, theme park and a 5,300-seat cinema.

Under fire: The film has been criticised for'whitewashing' by hiring Damon, even though he was enlisted to give the movie more international appeal

A company insider said bringing standards on par with those in the United States is a top priority for when the facility is fully open.

The film, which is due to be released in February, is already under fire for supposed 'whitewashing' due to the hiring of Hollywood star Damon to appear in a main role.

This is despite the fact he was hired to make the Chinese movie more attractive to international audiences.

In the film he is a hitman who hails from Europe who fights with the Chinese to protect the Great Wall from evil monsters.

China is the world's second largest economy, third if the EU is included as a whole, and is becoming a key market for studios seeking to turn a profit. 

Comments (30)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now