Currently in production for its fifth season, Emily in Paris recently resumed filming in Venice, Italy, just two days after the sudden d**th of the show’s assistant director, Diego Borella. Despite the tragedy, the cast and crew have continued work on the series, with Lily Collins and her costars returning to set to carry on the story that has captivated audiences worldwide.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, lead actress Lily Collins was spotted back on set in Venice, Italy, alongside costars Eugenio Franceschini, Ashley Park, and Paul Forman as filming for season five continued. Collins, 36, was photographed riding a boat through the canals while the cast worked on new scenes.
The return to filming comes only two days after assistant director Diego Borella, 47, collapsed and d**d while on location in Venice on Thursday, Aug. 21. Paramount Television Studios later confirmed his passing in a statement to PEOPLE.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the ‘Emily in Paris’ production family,” a studio spokesperson said per PEOPLE. “Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Diego Borella reportedly collapsed on set while preparing for a final scene inside Hotel Danieli in Venice. On-site medical staff tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead around 7 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to local outlets like La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera.
A local doctor confirmed that Borella likely d**d from a sudden heart attack, La Repubblica reported. He was an accomplished director and writer from Venice who had studied in Rome, London, and New York, and also worked in visual arts and literature.
Filming for season five of Emily in Paris began in Italy on Aug. 15 and was scheduled to wrap by Monday, Aug. 25. The new season is set to premiere on Netflix on Dec. 18.
Emily in Paris is a romantic comedy-drama series created by Darren Star (Sex and the City) for Netflix. Since its debut in October 2020, the show has become a cultural talking point thanks to its glamorous Parisian setting, fashion-forward style, and lighthearted storytelling.
The series follows Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins), a young marketing executive from Chicago who unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing firm. Armed with fresh ideas but little knowledge of French language and culture, Emily faces workplace challenges, clashes with colleagues, and romantic entanglements as she tries to prove herself in a new environment.
