HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ EP Shares Insights on Making the Upcoming ICE Episode More Balanced
As The Pitt progresses through its second season at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, the series is gearing up to address the pressing issue of immigration.
Executive producer John Wells reflected on a recent conversation with HBO executives regarding an upcoming episode featuring an ICE storyline.
“I don’t want to be in a situation where it’s a surprise,” Wells told The Daily Beast. “And their response was, ‘Good story. Just make sure it’s balanced, and we’re not just treating the situation as if it doesn’t have other points of view.’”
The episode was filmed in December, shortly after Warner Bros. announced its planned merger with Netflix. This context prompted Wells to seek guidance from the parent company amidst the multibillion-dollar deal.
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Wells expressed, “When we first pitched it, I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ I can say that all of us are approaching what’s going on in this country right now with a certain trepidation, and also awareness that there are some possible risks to telling certain kinds of stories.”
In the wake of the killing of U.S. citizen Keith Porter Jr. by an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on New Year’s Eve, public protests have emerged. These protests are also fueled by the recent tragic ICE-related fatalities, including those of Minnesota residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the death of Linda Davis in Savannah, Georgia, who was killed in a chase involving ICE this month.
The Pitt has built a reputation for tackling real-world issues including gun violence, fentanyl addiction, and the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its first season earned both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Drama Series.
