Amid the coronavirus scare as Bollywood and Indian production houses stall shoots, Netflix’s The Witcher has become the first show in Britain to be impacted by the growing crisis. Filming on the second season of the fantasy video game adaptation series has been suspended for two weeks, starting from Monday. The series stars Henry Cavill in the lead. Apparently, the newly cast Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju has tested positive for the deadly virus. The actor revealed on Instagram that he has tested positive. Following this, Netflix will conduct a deep clean of the sets before resuming shoot.
An entertainment portal quoted a source that said, “Cast and crew health is our primary concern. We are dealing with an unprecedented global pandemic that is beyond our control, and in many instances with mandates or restrictions imposed by governments (including travel restrictions in many countries). As such, we have made the decision, effective immediately, to pause production for 2 weeks during this difficult time, and we will support our production partners working on Netflix U.K. scripted series in doing the same. This will allow everyone the time to make informed decisions about how to move forward."
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An email sent to the production team on Sunday night read, “The coronavirus has raised challenging issues for everyone working on set on productions for Netflix. We are very grateful for all the work everyone has done to keep cast and crew safe during this pandemic.” In a fresh new email, the production team said an ‘individual’ has contacted coronavirus. An entertainment portal reported that it is Hivju whereas Netflix has not named him in their email. The streamer sought to reassure staff that it is putting in place precautionary measures to eradicate the virus on set at Arborfield Studios, which is west of London.
Netflix’s email read, “We wanted to let everyone know that we learned today that a member of our production family has unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19. They are currently seeking medical care and we are doing everything we can to support them at this time. Out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we will not be sharing the identity of the individual. We paused production prior to becoming aware of this, but as a further precaution we will be closing production offices and Arborfield immediately and arranging for deep cleaning and disinfection. This means no one will have access to production offices or Arborfield during that time.
We are in the process of contacting those who were in close contact with the relevant individual. However, due to the nature of this production, it is recommended that crew and cast self-quarantine for 14 days, monitor their temperature, and seek medical advice if they experience any symptoms. Please note that the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms is very low. See here for the WHO’s latest guidance. We advise all individuals to stay up to date with and follow their local government recommendations on COVID-19.
Please feel free to contact our Line Producer and Production HR if you have any further questions or concerns. Additionally, we also want to remind everyone of your access to our Modern Health programme, which can be a helpful resource for those who may need assistance during this uncertain time. Through Modern Health, each of you can access up to 3 individual counselling sessions per calendar year covered by Netflix. Thank you for supporting each other throughout this time.”
Reportedly, the cast and crew will continue to be paid during the hiatus. Besides The Witcher, BBC hit dramas Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty have also unveiled production delays and suspended filming in the light of the spread of COVID-19.
(Source: Hollywood Reporter/Deadline)
