Police Free Actor Locked in Newark Holding Cell
Film crews called police to 31 Green St. in Newark after an actor was accidentally locked inside a former jail cell block.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Accidents
Newark police rescued an actor who was accidentally locked inside a real holding cell during a film production at 31 Green St. Film crews made the emergency call at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and no injuries were reported.
Why it matters
The incident happened at a building with a troubling history, as the cell block was shuttered in 2017 after a federal probe found conditions posed a significant suicide risk to detainees. The location is now used as a municipal courthouse and as a film location.
The rescue was completed without injuries and no charges or formal investigation are reported in the source material. The extraction does not indicate whether any agency is reviewing how the actor was locked in the cell.
The players
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan is an American actor known for roles in Creed and Black Panther, and he stars in the upcoming Universal Pictures film Freefall.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler is an American actor who won acclaim for his portrayal of Elvis Presley, and he co-stars in the upcoming Universal Pictures film Freefall.
The details
Film crews at 31 Green St. in Newark called police about 2:30 p.m. Saturday after the actor became trapped in a real holding cell, which was shuttered in 2017. The production is for "Freefall," a Universal Pictures film starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, which has filmed scenes in Wayne and Newark this month.
Timeline
Saturday, about 2:30 p.m. (October 31, 2026): Film crew emergency call and actor rescue at 31 Green St.
2017: Green Street cell block shuttered after a federal probe.
This month (October 2026): Freefall filmed scenes in Wayne and Newark.
Legal Context
The 2017 closure of the Green Street cell block followed a federal probe that found conditions posed a significant suicide risk, with at least seven suicides reported in the facility's last decade. The building's continued use as a courthouse and film location places this accident within that documented record.
Residents and visitors near 31 Green St. in Newark may see film crews and production activity at the courthouse site. The incident underscores that the building's former jail cells remain physically accessible during filming.
The takeaway
Locations with a past tied to detainee safety can carry risks even after they are decommissioned, so production crews working in such buildings benefit from confirming that old cells are secured before filming.
Further reading
For more on similar incidents, browse the Accidents section of our Newark coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
