A worker has died in an accident at a Taiwan film lot during preparations for the shooting of a new Martin Scorsese movie.

Taiwan's Central News Agency said Chen Yu-lung was killed and two other men were injured Thursday after scaffolding around a building being torn down suddenly collapsed.

The lot belongs to the Chinese Culture and Movie Center, which issued a statement saying the contracting film crew bore responsibility for health and safety.

The news agency said shooting had not yet begun on the movie, a historical drama titled Silence about two Jesuit priests in 17th century Japan.

"Everyone is in shock and sorrow and expresses their deepest concern and sympathy to the families of the individual who died and those who were injured," a spokesman for the film said in a written statement carried by Deadline Hollywood's website.

The cast includes Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield of The Amazing Spider-Man movies.

Scorsese is in Taiwan to shoot the film, but it wasn't known if he was on the lot.

With files from CBC News