'Emily in Paris' Assistant Director Diego Borella Dies at 47 After Collapsing During the Filming of Show's New Season

What was meant to be another day of filming for the hit Netflix series in Venice ended in tragedy, silencing the set and shocking the city.

Diego Borella, an assistant director on Netflix's "Emily in Paris," died after collapsing during filming for Season 5 in Venice on Thursday. He was 47.

Paramount Television Studios confirmed his death in a statement to Variety. "We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the "Emily in Paris" production family,” a spokesperson said. "Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."

Borella, a locally hired Italian third assistant director, collapsed around 7:00 p.m. while the crew was preparing a scene inside the Hotel Danieli. Medics on set attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Local outlets reported the cause as a sudden heart attack.

Authorities arrived shortly afterward to document the incident. The tragedy left the production in shock. Filming was suspended through the weekend as cast and crew mourned the loss of a colleague many had worked with for years.

In Venice, the news spread quickly among friends and residents who remembered Borella as a beloved figure in the city's artistic community.

"I have beautiful memories of Diego—he was a handsome, elegant young man, full of style," said actor and artist Mattia Berto, a longtime friend. "Diego had a great sense of irony. He was brilliant and talented. His is a young life cut short, and there are few words one can say. Only deep sadness."

Venice's councilor for tourism, Simone Venturini, also paid tribute, describing Borella as a respected professional admired by colleagues throughout the industry. He extended the city's condolences to Borella's family and coworkers.

Beyond his work in television, Borella's career included projects in cinema, theater, and literature. He lived and worked in Venice, London, New York, and Rome, and in recent years had devoted time to poetry and writing stories for children.

Friends and colleagues described him as a passionate traveler and a creative force whose work crossed multiple fields. Borella died in his hometown, on the very set where he built his career, leaving behind a body of work that spanned both stage and screen.

Following the incident, Paramount released another statement in his memory and confirmed that production would remain paused temporarily. Filming resumed over the weekend, and Season 5 of "Emily in Paris" is still slated to premiere on December 18.

Despite the tragedy, production on "Emily in Paris" remains on track for its December 18 premiere. The upcoming season expands the series beyond France, bringing Emily Cooper's (Lily Collins) story into Italy.

Creator Darren Star described Season 5 as a tale set between Rome and Paris, with Emily navigating both cities as her personal and professional life evolves. Much of the action will take place in Rome, where she opens a new office for Agence Grateau, while additional scenes were filmed in Venice, including sequences of Emily on the city’s canals.

The storyline builds on the events of Season 4, when Emily began a romance with an Italian fashion heir and relocated to an apartment in Rome. Although the setting has broadened, the title of the show will remain the same.

Star explained that the goal was to keep the series fresh, taking the character to unexpected places and giving the production a wider international scope.

Season 4 proved to be one of the show's most successful installments, debuting at the top of Netflix’s Global Top 10 in August with nearly 20 million views in its first four days. It reached the Top 10 in 93 countries and held a spot on the list for four consecutive weeks.

Several new actors are joining the cast this season. Lead actress Lily Collins was spotted filming and has already shared images from the Venice set, giving audiences an early look at Emily's Italian chapter.