Director recalls “dark” energy on set in one of Hayden Panettiere's final films

The director of one of Hayden Panettiere's last films has spoken about noticing something was wrong with the actress during production, describing a troubling atmosphere around her at the time.

Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died on Sunday, 16 August, at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Griff Furst, who directed Panettiere in his 2025 film A Breed Apart, addressed her death in a video posted to Instagram, recalling his excitement at working with an actress he had known and admired for roughly a decade.

Furst said he was alerted by the production's security team, who had collected Panettiere from the airport, that something seemed off. He initially thought little of it, but when he later went to greet her and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who opened the door, he sensed she was not well – even as she remained warm and enthusiastic about the work. Drawing on experience across more than 100 films, Furst said it was clear something was wrong, describing the mood in her room as distinctly heavy.

Hickerson and his brother were reportedly at the scene when Panettiere was pronounced dead, according to a police report. The Greenville County Coroner's Office has said her cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation, noting that no obvious signs of trauma were found during the autopsy. Officials were, however, reportedly heard referencing an overdose and cardiac arrest during the 911 call.

Panettiere had spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction, detailing them further in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published earlier this year, in which she also wrote about physical abuse by Hickerson. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, has since criticised Hickerson, saying the family had long tried to get him out of her daughter's life.

In his video, Furst said he had believed Panettiere was doing better and that the two had recently discussed working together again, which he said made the news of her death even harder to take.

If this piece touches on themes readers may find distressing, The Gazette encourages anyone affected by addiction, domestic abuse or related struggles to seek appropriate support.