‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Halts Production Due to COVID-19 Positive Tests

Jurassic World: Dominion has found several members of its crew have tested positive for COVID-19, so production has been halted.

 

This was announced by director Colin Trevorrow on Twitter, who said:

 

“Woke up to the news we had a few positive Coronavirus tests on Jurassic World: Dominion. All tested negative shortly after, but due to our safety protocols we’re going to pause for two weeks. Back soon.”

 

A Universal spokesperson said in a statement:

 

“Late last night, we were informed that the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ production experienced a small amount of positive tests for COVID-19. Even though subsequent tests proved negative this morning, due to our rigid protocols and to ensure that the safety and well-being of our entire cast and crew is paramount at all times, those who initially tested positive are currently self-isolating, as are those who they have come into contact with. As a result filming has been temporarily paused and will resume in accordance with established safety guidelines.”

 

 

The creature featured in the picture that accompanies the tweet comes as a surprise, as it has hair, which makes it a non-mammalian primitive synapsid (also known as proto-mammals). This group of animals dominated the Permian period approximately 299 to 251 million years ago, before dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Back in May, producer Frank Marshall teased Dominion would not be the end of the long-running saga, so an expansion of the prehistoric bestiary in order to keep things fresh makes a lot of sense.

 

This is the latest addition to the list of productions that have been halted due to coronavirus positive tests – the list includes The Batman, which is back into set after a 14-day pause in September.

 

The news comes a day after Universal announced the movie would be delayed an entire year. It is now coming out on June 10, 2022.

 

Plot details are still caught in amber. Colin Trevorrow is directing a script written by himself and Emily Carmichael (Pacific Rim: Uprising). We do know, however, that the original cast from 1993’s Jurassic Park is coming back, and that even includes Lewis Dodgson, the mysterious human antagonist of the film, who will now be played by Campbell Scott.

 

Also, fans of Jurassic Park who were disappointed by the promise that represented Jeff Goldblum’s appearance in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, fear not, as Sam Neill confirmed three months ago that their roles will be sizeable and not small cameos.