In another case of what is the new normal on film sets, New Line has made the decision to halt production on the Olivia Wilde-directed DON'T WORRY DARLING after a positive COVID-19 test. Stars of the film, including Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, KiKi Layne, Gemma Chan, and Nick Kroll will all quarantine for the mandatory 14 days.
According to "Deadline", the studio is not disclosing who tested positive but it's reportedly not one of the principal cast members. That being said, it is someone who was in close enough proximity to them that the shut down was deemed necessary to find out if anyone else on the production has been exposed. As of this writing, no one else on the film has tested positive for the virus. The movie was shooting in Downtown Los Angeles when the positive test was discovered.
The production was said to be following strict protocols and the positive result came up during a routine test on set. These rapid tests are increasingly becoming the new normal for productions to continue and the good thing about them is that if someone does come up positive, production can quickly take action to begin quarantine procedures. If you recall, when Robert Pattinson tested positive on the set of THE BATMAN, the actor was quickly quarantined and everyone in close proximity of him was tested. No one else reportedly contracted the virus on that set and the film shut down for 14 days until Pattinson was done with the quarantine period. Production resumed when he was given the all-clear.
The plot of DON'T WORRY DARLING is a bit unknown but it is described as a psychological thriller centering on an unhappy housewife in the 1950s. A lot of eyes are on this project because it finds actress Olivia Wilde behind the camera once again after she earned raves for her directorial debut with the coming-of-age comedy, BOOKSMART.
DON'T WORRY DARLING will halt for around 14 days, the standard quarantine period recommended in the safety guidelines, and everyone on set isolated immediately. Production on the film began just a couple of weeks ago and the 14-day halt will be sustainable since the film is backed by New Line/Warner Bros. They can afford the delay because insurance companies are writing policies for COVID shutdowns.