Netflix's Emily in Paris assistant director Diego Borella, 47, died on Thursday, August 21, after he collapsed while working on the upcoming fifth season of the series in Venice. The accident happened at the Hotel Danieli, where Borella was on set for the last episode of season five. Although he received immediate medical care, the paramedics failed to save him.
Venice health authorities said emergency responders attended quickly at 6:42 pm local time. There were efforts at reviving Borella for almost an hour, but he was declared dead at 7:30 pm. Members of the production crew saw the fall, and filming on the last episode stopped right away, leaving the cast and crew stunned.
Born in Venice, Borella established a very successful career in film and television working in large cities such as Rome, London, and New York before coming back to Italy. Throughout his years, he earned the reputation of a sought-after and versatile professional who could fit into a wide range of positions on foreign productions. Aside from directing, Borella had been working on writing lately, creating poetry, fairy tales, and children's stories.
Colleagues recall him not just for his ability but also for his team player nature. Most painted Borella as one person who easily balanced the requirements of big-budget productions alongside developing creative ventures of his own.
The fifth season of Emily in Paris will be released on Netflix on December 18, 2025. The plot shifts some of the action from Paris to Italy and was filmed in Venice and Rome. Borella was in charge of the last scene, which was initially supposed to end on Monday, August 25. The production halt due to his death opened the completion schedule for doubts, although Netflix has not yet confirmed new schedules.
The series, which is developed by Darren Star in 2020, features Lily Collins playing the character of Emily, who is assigned to lead Agence Grateau's Rome office in the latest season. The last episodes were directed by Andrew Fleming, Erin Ehrlich, and Peter Lauer.
Diego Borella's unexpected death has left Emily in Paris cast and the wider film industry grieving a versatile and gifted professional. His peers have offered heartfelt condolences, noting that Borella's work both behind the scenes and as a creative writer will have a lasting legacy.
As Netflix and the production team struggle to cope with the death, the fans of the show are poised to honor Borella's legacy when season five airs later this year.
