Montana Town Halts Daily Wire Film After Five-Hour Emergency Meeting

Municipal officials in Livingston, Montana, voted unanimously on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to temporarily suspend the film permit for Pawn Shop, an upcoming feature connected to conservative media outlet The Daily Wire. The decision followed nearly five hours of reports, public testimony, and commission deliberations during a special hearing that began at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 1:46 p.m.

The action halts downtown production by permit applicant Bonfire Pawn Shop LLC while the city awaits a formal legal opinion from the City Attorney. Due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026, the opinion will evaluate whether the city holds the legal authority under Montana law and municipal codes to amend, suspend, or revoke the permit.

Community Objections and Street Closures

Filming in downtown Livingston began on September 23, 2026, and was permitted through October 10. Opposition escalated following street closures, simulated gunfire, car stunts, and the presence of armed private security. On September 30, major downtown closures triggered vocal pushback from residents and local business owners, who stated they received no prior contact or official notification before traffic was redirected and simulated shooting commenced. Production representatives have maintained that they contacted nearby businesses and adhered to permit terms.

Disruptions also affected local services. Representatives from the Livingston Food Resource Center, which serves approximately one in eight Park County residents, reported that road barricades and security personnel impeded community access to the pantry. Protests intensified outside active film locations, with demonstrator Brooklyn Wilde noting that police were called roughly a dozen times over filming and demonstration noise, while asserting that protesters complied with municipal noise limits of 65 decibels.

Production Details and Next Steps

Corporate filings list Dallas Sonnier's Cinestate Development Two LLC as the registered agent and managing principal for Bonfire Pawn Shop LLC. Local producer Carter Boehm, owner of Yellowstone Film Ranch, confirmed his involvement alongside Sonnier and Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro. Directed by Michael Polish from an 86-page script by Jake Harlen, the project reportedly stars Danny Trejo, Harvey Keitel, and Henry Thomas in a fictional dramatization of an immigration enforcement standoff set in Minneapolis.

Livingston City Manager Grant Gager stated during the proceedings that the municipality does not regulate artistic content or political viewpoints when reviewing film permits. The commission's vote focused on public safety, access, and municipal compliance.

The suspension pauses upcoming production stunts, including a vehicle crash planned for October 7 through a storefront window at 207 South Second Street. The city's legal determination on October 5 will decide whether the permit is formally amended, revoked, or allowed to proceed, while leaving open the possibility that production could relocate to private facilities, such as the Yellowstone Film Ranch.