As the coronavirus incites numerous festival cancelations and film delays, it is increasingly taking the spotlight for discussions about the future of the entertainment industry. Now actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have confirmed that they themselves have the coronavirus, making them the first American celebrities to have tested positive for the virus.
The announcement came from Hanks himself, who posted on his social media on behalf of himself and wife Rita. The two are currently in Australia, in preparation for Hanks’ role in the upcoming Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann.
As stated in his post, the couple will now be placed in isolation for treatment. He advises everyone to “Take care of yourselves” and says that he will be taking things one step at a time. This is major news, as Hanks and Wilson are major names in entertainment. His announcement came moments after the NBA announced that a player tested positive, causing a delay in the upcoming season.
The entertainment industry will also be having to take things one step at a time, scrambling to find ways to move forward with production and distribution without endangering cast or crew. No Time to Die notably was delayed by 6 months because of marketing and box office concerns. More news is likely to follow as companies adapt to this rapidly changing climate.