Peaky Blinders and Line Of Duty suspend filming as entertainment industry grinds to a halt amid coronavirus pandemic
Filming on some of the country’s biggest TV shows has been cancelled, while Hollywood movies have delayed production in the UK as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.
It was announced on Monday that filming for series six of Line of Duty has been suspended, while Peaky Blinders has postponed shooting for its sixth series.
Meanwhile Fantastic Beasts 3 was due to start shooting in London on Monday, but it has been announced that production on the major film has been suspended.
Cancelled: Filming on some of the country’s biggest TV shows has been halted, with Line Of Duty announcing on Monday it is suspending production on series six
The official Twitter account for hit BBC police drama Line Of Duty confirmed on Monday that cast and crew have been sent home from set, amid filming for the sixth series.
Shooting began in Belfast on February 17, but a statement explained: ‘In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, @worldprods are suspending filming of #LineofDuty S6 with the support of the BBC. We will keep you updated with further developments in due course. Thank you.’
Vicky McClure, who stars as DCI Fleming in the drama, alongside Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar, retweeted the message, adding: ‘Look out for one another xxx’.
Postponed: The official Twitter account for the hit BBC police drama confirmed on Monday that cast and crew have been sent home from the Belfast set
Hit show: Lead actor Martin Compston (front right) previously posted a photo with co-stars Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar and the show’s creator Jed Mercurio dining in Belfast as filming commenced last month
Another BBC hit, Peaky Blinders, which shoots primarily in and around Liverpool and Leeds, also announced Monday that it is postponing production on series six over fears about coronavirus.
Posted on the programme’s Instagram account, a message read: ‘After much consideration, and in light of the developing situation concerning Covid-19, the start of production of Peaky Blinders series 6 has been postponed.’
‘Huge thanks to our incredible cast and crew, and to all our amazing fans for their continued support.’
Suspended: Another BBC hit, Peaky Blinders, which shoots primarily in and around Liverpool and Leeds, also announced Monday that it is postponing production
The hugely popular show stars Cillian Murphy and films mostly in the Yorkshire region (Cillian pictured on the set of season five with director Anthony Byrne
Both Peaky Blinders and Line Of Duty were thought to be returning to screens later in 2020.
Production on major Hollywood movies has also been affected with Deadline reporting on Sunday that Warner Bros has decided not to commence with filming for the anticipated third Fantastic Beasts film, an offshoot of the mega money-making Harry Potter franchise.
Filming on the David Yates directed film, based on the work of JK Rowling, was due to start in London on Monday, with a planned release date of November 12 2021.
Planning: Byrne previously shared a photo of the crew on a location scout day for series six in early March
On Friday it was reported the studio has temporarily suspended production of The Batman – the reboot which stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne.
‘Warner Bros. Pictures feature production of The Batman will be on a two-week hiatus starting today. The studio will continue to monitor the situation closely,’ the company said in a statement, reported Deadline.
Production of the movie began in London in January, but was about to move locations to Liverpool, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jurassic World: Dominion – the third film in the new series had been shooting in London since February, but has been shut down as part of Universal’s mass shutterings, with its June 2021 release date possibly in doubt.
Halted: Production on major Hollywood movies has also been affected with Deadline reporting that Warner Bros has decided not to commence with filming for the third Fantastic Beasts film