Popular movies like The Batman and Fantastic Beasts 3 have been given permission to resume filming in the UK.
In March, the coronavirus pandemic caused film and television productions to shut down temporarily. This had a severe impact on the entertainment industry. Movie theatres around the world were forced to close and film festivals had to be cancelled or postponed. While smaller films proceeded with earlier digital releases, large movie franchises opted for postponements or delayed their releases indefinitely.
News of the UK including film productions in their reopening guidelines broke a few weeks ago. The British Film Commission released a new list of health and safety guidelines that have been approved by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive. This means the UK’s film and high-end television production industry can get back to work.
This is Robert Pattinson’s stunt double. Scott Kirkbride is a South African stuntman who has worked on projects like The Maze Runner, F9 and Tomb Raider. He is now Robert Pattinson’s stunt double in #TheBatman? pic.twitter.com/FrZSzVUZ76
— The Battinson??? (@BattinsonBatman) February 23, 2020
The guidelines include safety training, physical distancing and temperature tests.
Despite the new rules studios and networks have been cautious about deciding when their crews should get back to work.
In the interest of safety, Warner Bros has decided to wait a little longer. Other productions have also opted to wait even though restrictions in other popular filming destinations, like the Czech Republic and New Zealand, have been lifted.
To date, James Cameron’s Avatar sequel is the biggest film to get back to work. Filming is said to have resumed last week.
