Albuquerque Journal

‘The Batman’ shoot suspended after positive COVID-19 test

Filming had resumed just days before, after a 6-month hiatus

- BY LINDSEY BAHR

A person working on “The Batman” production has tested positive for COVID-19 and the U.K shoot has been suspended temporaril­y.

A spokespers­on for Warner Bros. said Thursday that the individual is currently isolating in accordance with establishe­d protocols.

Robert Pattinson is starring as the caped crusader in the new film from director Matt Reeves, which had resumed filming a few days ago after an almost sixmonth hiatus because of the coronaviru­s pandemic. It was one of the first major production­s to resume in the U.K., with enhanced safety and distancing measures in place.

Hollywood has been slowly and cautiously getting back to work around the world in the COVID-era. “Jurassic World: Dominion” is another major Hollywood production that started up again recently at Pinewood Studios outside of London, U.K. And other blockbuste­rs have been filming around the world, including Disney’s “Avatar” in New Zealand. Each country has its own set of safety protocols and guidelines.

Regardless of how eager people are to get back on set, uncertaint­y looms over safety, liabilitie­s and public relations headaches should anyone get sick. The New York Times reported in August that a few crewmember­s on Universal’s “Jurassic World” had tested positive, had quarantine­d and no one became seriously ill.

“The Batman” had also had a brush with coronaviru­s in March. Andrew Jack, a famed dialect coach and actor who had been working on the movie before lockdown, contracted coronaviru­s and died. Reeves at the time tweeted that they were “heartbroke­n.”

“The Batman” was originally supposed to hit theaters in June 2021, but was pushed back to October because of the delays. The cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis and Paul Dano.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States