“Fantastic Beasts” 3 Production on Hiatus and Further “Cursed Child” Productions Suspended
Production of the next Fantastic Beasts movie and further locations of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 virus.
Principal photography for Fantastic Beasts 3 had been slated to begin this week at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
EXCLUSIVE: we just got word from friends in production! Camera tests for #FantasticBeasts3 start on Monday, and principal photography the week after! *happy dance*
Anyone else as excited as we are?? 👏🏻😍🙌🏻😎💯 pic.twitter.com/FePEt6V7oc
— MuggleNet: #1 Wizarding World Resource Since 1999 (@MuggleNet) March 5, 2020
However, according to Deadline, production is now on hiatus due to the continuing spread of COVID-19 in the UK and across the world. There is no word yet on when the production will resume.
There are also further closures for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child productions. Following advice from the UK government, the West End production has suspended performances until further notice.
The producers of #CursedChildLDN are committed to the safety of all audiences, cast and company, and theatre staff. As such, in line with the latest advice from the UK Government we are temporarily suspending performances until further notice. More info: https://t.co/hU93fWMDT1 pic.twitter.com/pixiZmFJpB
— Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (@CursedChildLDN) March 16, 2020
In San Francisco, the play had previously reduced audience capacity. The production is now suspended until the end of March.
For the safety of all of our patrons, cast and crew, #CursedChildSF is following all State of CA guidelines on gatherings and is suspending performances at the Curran through the end of March.
For more information, please visit: https://t.co/pCAkGuiTeJ— Harry Potter and the Cursed Child SF (@CursedChildSF) March 12, 2020
In Canada, the sale of tickets for the Toronto production has been postponed until further notice. The play was expected to open on October 23, and casting had been announced earlier this month.
Due to the rapidly evolving situation around Coronarvirus-19, we have made the decision to postpone our public on sale date until further notice. We understand that this delay is disappointing; please remember that this postponement is temporary. Thank you for understanding. pic.twitter.com/6ccEm98Yw7
— Harry Potter and the Cursed Child CAN (@cursedchildcan) March 16, 2020
But happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, and fans have been sharing their love for Cursed Child during the downtime on Twitter with the hashtag #LightInTheDarkness.
#LightInTheDarkness pic.twitter.com/1G0zSQhjyX
— Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (@CursedChildLDN) March 16, 2020
The situation around this current coronavirus outbreak continues to change, so make sure to check in with MuggleNet for the latest information on Cursed Child performances and Fantastic Beasts 3 production.