UPDATE: "Variety" is now reporting that, despite earlier reports, production on THE BATMAN remains paused after Robert Pattinson tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Although "Variety" reported earlier that the film had resumed without Pattinson, they have spoken to a studio insider that denied that report and confirmed that production has not resumed. Crew members are still doing construction work on sets and props but anyone on the film team that was in contact with Pattinson is under quarantine. It appears unlikely that shooting will resume until the two-week quarantine period is over.
As the film business continues to have absolute faith in the measures being taken to keep cast and crew safe from COVID-19 on British sets, THE BATMAN has reportedly resumed production in the UK after its star, Robert Pattinson, reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The news broke yesterday with Warner Bros. announcing that production was now on pause but according to the "Daily Mail" via "Variety", the cameras are rolling once again, albeit, without Robert Pattinson.
Pattinson has to self-isolate for 14 days due to his positive test results which is the normal quarantine period after contracting the virus. The "Daily Mail's" report says that director Matt Reeves is trying to finish as much of the shoot as he can without Pattinson, including scenes with the actor’s body double. This is likely being done to keep the film on track for its October 1, 2021, release date which was already pushed from June 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown.
THE BATMAN COVID-19 story has only brought attention to safety protocols on film sets in the UK. Despite what happened not that set, the chief executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, Adrian Wootton, is confident that all safety protocols are rigorously being followed:
"We know that productions in the U.K. are rigorously following BFC Guidance with robust health and safety procedures in place, including stringent testing regimes, which is why any case of coronavirus can be rapidly identified and appropriate self-isolating procedures implemented. We’re confident that with all measures in place, any production will resume filming as soon as it’s safe to do so. We also believe this will not impact production overall continuing in U.K., precisely because we have such robust health and safety measures operating, enabling our world-class film and high-end TV sector to get back up and running."
The fact of the matter is, this start and stop style of filmmaking, due to the pandemic, is going to be the new normal for a while. I have no doubt that productions are doing everything they can to make sure their sets are safe but this is also an unprecedented event and there are bound to be some slips. Beyond trying to make sure there is no exposure at all, it should be commended that it's being caught quickly if someone is exposed so that the proper protocols can be addressed swiftly to keep the rest of the cast and crew safe.