After the rising number of COVID-19 infections across Malta, Universal will adjust shooting plans for Jurassic World: Dominion on the island, taking more scaled back approach for precaution. Lead stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Neill will no longer be traveling to the country.
Production for the tentpole restarted on July 6, however according to local reports last week, four Jurassic World crew members tested positive for coronavirus. They, along with others who had been in recent contact with them, are now self-isolating.
According to a Universal Pictures spokesperson, “Jurassic World: Dominion will have a significant presence in Malta with a second unit crew shooting there from the end of August through to September. Working with an abundance of caution as we have done throughout this production, first unit will no longer shoot in Malta to keep our presence on the ground to a minimum. We’d like to thank the Maltese Government and Film Commission for all their support and we look forward to a successful shoot in this beautiful country.”
This month, Malta has experienced a surge in coronavirus infections, with 677 active cases and 47 fresh cases that were reported in the last 24 hours. Since the pandemic began, the island has recorded a total of 1,470 cases with nine deaths. Starting today all nightclubs, bars, discos, concert halls and sports clubs in Malta will be closed. Restaurants and shops will remain open, with public gatherings limited to 15 people.
“All these measures are based on the principle of social distancing,” said Charmaine Gauci, Malta’s director of health. “We felt that they had to be strengthened in several areas.”
Filming in Malta for Dominion will continue with the second unit crew, made up of local professionals and crew from the UK, where the film has been based. Shooting will continue in the UK after Malta, however, in light of the spike in coronavirus cases on the island, the government has added Malta to its list of places from which arrivals must quarantine for 14 days.
Jurassic World: Dominion is scheduled for a release in June 2021.
Deadline was the first to break the news.
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