The Guardian has reported that several film and television projects underway in the UK are to recommence as soon as possible having been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, following government guidance. And amongst the projects likely to kick back into action in the very near future is Netflix's second season of The Witcher.
The Guardian quotes the British culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, who says: "We've worked hard to support the industry through these difficult times and I'm delighted we've been able to agree this step forward towards getting the cameras rolling safely again."
The restarting of filming in the UK - other projects include the Matt Reeves-directed The Batman, Peaky Blinders, Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, and the next film in the Fantastic Beasts sub-series - is subject to strict guidelines drawn up by the British Film Commission and the British Film Institute.
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These guidelines have been signed off by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive.
The Guardian quotes an unnamed source in the film and TV industry, who says: "This is a green light that signals that the UK is open for business again for film and high-end TV production. Many productions have to get up and running again in the next two months or they won't get made this year as they rely on summer weather and conditions."
The second season of The Witcher was announced before the first, eight-episode season aired on Netflix in late 2019. And the show's generally positive critical reception (our review, here), acclaim for Henry Cavill in the lead role of Geralt of Rivia, and high viewing figures - some 76 million households saw the show, according to Netflix's own data, which is a record for a first season on the platform - certainly vindicated the decision.
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Even before Covid-19 put the world on pause - and it still is, remember, please - the second season of The Witcher was eyeing a 2021 release. Fingers crossed that it still is. Before then, we're still expecting Netflix's tie-in animated movie, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. That was due out in 2020, but I don't think any of us will be surprised, or bothered, if it too slides into 2021.
If you're yet to dive into The Witcher on Netflix, we recommend it! But check out our guide to everything you need to know about the show's characters and world first, because things can get complicated, fast.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: The Witcher