Michael Mando ‘FIRED from new Apple TV+ series following clash with co-star’

Actor Michael Mando has reportedly been fired from Ridley Scott’s upcoming Apple TV+ series Sinking Spring after getting into an on set clash with an unnamed co-star.

THR reported the news Friday, though details about what led to the alleged altercation were not disclosed.

A source told the outlet that producers tried to rectify the situation but they ultimately made the decision to let Mando go and recast the part.

The role of Manny Cespedes will now be played by actor Wagner Moura, who is best known for his roles in Netflix’s Narcos and the Apple TV+ series Shining Girls.

Production on Sinking Spring began in February in Philadelphia, but it’s unclear as to how much of the footage will need to be re-shot in wake of Mando’s departure.

Scott, 85, will serve as director of at least one of the eight episodes and executive produce, via his Scott Free Productions, while Peter Craig serves as writer, executive producer and director of one episode in his television debut.

Among Craig’s Hollywood credits: he co-wrote the story idea for Top Gun: Maverick with Justin Marks, and co-wrote the screenplay for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015), Bad Boys For Life (2020) and The Batman (2022). 

As for Scott, his legendary career as a filmmaker includes directing such classics as Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Hannibal (2001), Prometheus (2012), The Martian (2015) and Alien: Covenant (2017).

Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book Dope Thief, Sinking Spring follows two long-time friends from Philadelphia who pose as Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents to rob a house in the countryside, and then ultimately have to face the consequences of their actions when it turns out they had robbed a large narcotics operation.

Newcomer Moura will play Manny Cespedes, a good-hearted friend of Ray (Brian Tyree Henry), who he first met when they did time together in the Youth Authority.

Along with Moura and Henry, the cast also includes Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Amir Arison, Ving Rhames, Dustin Nguyen, Nesta Cooper, Idris Debrand, Liz Caribel and Will Pullen. 

Henry, who has the fourth and final season of Atlanta (2016-2022) due in September, will also executive produce, while the book author, Tafoya, will be a consulting producer for the show.

Mando, a Quebec City, Quebec, Canada native, is best known to many fans for his memorable role as Nacho Varga on the hit Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul (2015-2022). 

The classic AMC drama only just wrapped its six-season run in August 2022.

After starting his career in theater in his hometown of Salvador, Brazil, Moura began gracing the silver screen, and eventually made it leading man status.

He would make his international debut in the science fiction film, Elysium (2013), opposite Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, which earned him some praise from critics.

Less than two years later, Moura landed the role of Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar in the Netflix crime drama series Narco (2015-2016), which ran for three seasons.

He briefly reprise his role as Escobar in a cameo in the companion series Narcos: Mexico (2018), but also directed two of the episodes.

Moura also appeared in another Apple TV+ production, the thriller series Shining Girls (2022), alongside Elisabeth Moss, Phillipa Soo, Chris Chalk, Amy Brenneman and Jamie Bell.