The Batman and The Witcher were both forced to stop filming in the UK thanks to positive COVID-19 tests, and the same has now happened to Fantastic Beasts 3. This is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the threequel, with the biggest being Warner Bros.' decision to replace Johnny Depp with Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald after months of controversy surrounding the actor.
"A team member from Fantastic Beasts 3 has tested positive for COVID-19," the studio said in a statement shared with Deadline earlier today confirming that production has paused.
"The diagnosis was confirmed as a result of required and ongoing testing that all production employees receive, and the team member is currently in isolation. Out of an abundance of caution, Fantastic Beasts 3 paused production and will be back up in accordance with safety guidelines."
The delay is unlikely to be more than a couple of weeks, but if Ezra Miller is caught up in this, then the start date of The Flash could potentially be postponed to at least some extent.
Shooting in the UK has become something of a risky endeavour for studios; initially, the country's decision to open its borders to productions was welcomed by studios anxious to get back to work. However, as cases have risen, shutdowns like this have become more and more commonplace.
The currently untitled Fantastic Beasts 3 is set to be released in theaters on July 15th, 2022.
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