Star Wars and Jurassic World filming is ‘SUSPENDED after Pinewood Studios send staff home for at least a month’ amid coronavirus pandemic
- Filming has ground to a halt for Star Wars Disney+ spin-off Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jurassic World: Dominion
- Staff at Pinewood Studios, where production has began, are said to have been sent home
- On Monday, PM Boris Johnson urged Britons to work from home and stop non-essential contact
- Filming for Jurassic World began last month
- It’s unknown when the production was scheduled to end or if the hiatus will delay its June 21 release date
- Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire has been the location for many well-known films including James Bond
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Filming for Star Wars and Jurassic World is said to have been temporarily suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Shooting had begun at Pinewood Studios for the Star Wars Disney+ spin-off starring Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jurassic World: Dominion.
However it was reported on Tuesday, staff have been sent home for at least a month after Boris Johnson announced Britons should work from home, stop non-essential travel and contact with others.
Ground to a halt: Filming for Star Wars and Jurassic World is said to have been temporarily suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic (pictured 2005)
A source told The Sun: ‘Filming just stopped today and everyone at Pinewood was sent home.
‘Staff are being told the site will now be closed for 30 days starting from next Monday.’
A spokesperson for Pinewood Studios told the publication: ‘Pinewood Group are continuing to follow guidance set out by the Government, and the studios remain fully operational.’
MailOnline has contacted Pinewood Studios for comment.
Postponed: Shooting had begun at Pinewood Studios for the Star Wars Disney+ spin-off starring Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jurassic World: Dominion
Since its beginning, Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire has been the location for many well-known films, with the long-running James Bond and Carry On British film series making Pinewood their home.
Jurassic Park has been filming since February, and the studio will determine when to resume production in the coming weeks.
It’s unknown when the production was scheduled to end or if the hiatus will delay its June 21 release date.
Dominion brings back Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, as well as Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill, who are reprising their roles from the original 1993 film Jurassic Park.
Postponed: Jurassic World: Dominion has become the latest big Hollywood title to halt production
Disney will also temporarily ‘pause production’ on a slew of its live-action films as a result of the growing coronavirus threat.
‘We have made the decision to pause production on some of our live-action films for a short time,’ announced a Disney representative in a statement released Friday.
Although ‘there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19’ on Disney sets, the halt comes as a result of the company ‘considering the current environment and the best interests’ of cast and crew.
Projects currently suspended include the live-action The Little Mermaid.
In the balance: Jurassic Park has been filming since February, and the studio will determine when to resume production in the coming weeks
The UK’s TV, film and entertainment industry is at breaking point amid the coronavirus pandemic, with production on major shows and movies shut down.
Live shows such as ITV’s Loose Women and The Jeremy Vine Show have been shooting without a studio audience, while filming across the UK has been halted for major programmes such as Line Of Duty and Peaky Blinders.
It was also confirmed on Tuesday that the BAFTA Television Craft Awards and Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards, originally scheduled for 26 April & 17 May, will be postponed.
Cases of the coronavirus across the UK have now risen to 1,543, with 55 deaths; but there is likely to be many more as tests are being carried out on patients in hospital.