Diego Borella, assistant director of Netflix’s “Emily in Paris,” tragically passed away on August 21, 2025, at the age of 47, during the filming of the series‘ fifth season at Venice’s historic Hotel Danieli. Borella collapsed at approximately 7 p.m. while preparing for a final scene. Despite immediate medical assistance from on-set personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene, with a local doctor confirming that he likely suffered a sudden heart attack.
Borella was a respected filmmaker from Venice, trained in Rome, London, and New York, with a diverse career that spanned cinema, visual arts, and literature. In recent years, he had focused on writing poetry, fairy tales, and children‘s stories. His contributions to the arts earned him admiration within the industry.
Following his untimely death, production on the final episode of the fifth season was temporarily halted. Filming resumed on August 23, 2025, with the expectation that the shoot would conclude by August 25.
“Emily in Paris,” created by Darren Star, stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, who navigates her life in Paris. The fifth season is set to premiere on Netflix on December 18, 2025, highlighting both the charm and challenges of her Parisian experience. Borella’s passing comes as a significant loss to the cast and crew, who have expressed their grief and dedication to honoring his memory as they complete the project.
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