'The Batman' might get back to filming soon with UK restarting movie productions on 'Covid-19 secure' sets
It's been almost two months since the United Kingdom shut down production for movies and tv shows filming in the country, throwing the entertainment industry as a whole into a state of total uncertainty. But now it appears there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
The UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport reportedly appears to have been cleared for reopening and is said to be actively encouraging studios to start rolling the cameras as soon as possible. This news offers a ray of hope for Matt Reeves's 'The Batman', which is one of the biggest projects affected by the coronavirus shutdown.
Reopening of sets will depend on them being declared "Covid-19 secure", Comicbook reports. A department spokesperson reportedly said that “The government is working closely with the screen sector to understand how different types of productions can comply with social distancing guidelines, and give confidence to people in the TV and film industries that there are safe ways in which they can return to work."
Production on 'The Batman' has faced its fair share of tragedies, including the death of dialect coach Andrew Jack, who died after developing Covid-19. Matt Reeves had previously told Deadline that at least 25% of the movie has already been filmed and he's eagerly waiting to see when they can return to work and film the rest.
“We’ve actually shot a quarter of the movie and I have been pouring through dailies, looking at takes, and what’s to come,” Reeves said.
With any luck, 'The Batman' might be able to resume filming by the start of June, though all of that still remains to be seen. Right now, the film has already had its release date postponed from June 25, 2021, to October of the same year.
'The Batman' stars Robert Pattinson as the titular Caped Crusader with Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner James Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / Penguin.
The movie is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 1, 2021.