The Witcher 3 Production Shuts Down Due to BA.5 COVID-19 Variant

Netflix has confirmed that The Witcher season 3 production has been put to a halt due to the latest COVID-related developments. The show is based on the CD Projekt Red video game series of the same name and is one of the best-liked shows on Netflix.

Netflix had to shut down the production as, earlier this week, rumors began to spread that Henry Cavill tested positive for the virus. The streaming giant merely states that filming has “paused due to COVID and we will be up and running as soon as it is safe to do so.” Cavill’s rep, however, chooses to remain silent on the matter.

Netflix has verified the news about the shutdown to some major media outlets, but they haven’t confirmed whether Cavill tested positive for COVID or not. 

As of right now,  it is currently unclear when the production will begin again. These problems normally only last a few weeks, and won’t make a huge impact on production, unless there are serious complications. Fans shouldn’t expect a very long delay in the show’s premiere unless Netflix specifically states otherwise.

This isn’t the first time the U.K.-based production has had to shut down due to the virus. The company had to pause The Witcher production due to the pandemic when they were working on Season 2 in 2020.

The announcement about this season’s production halt came after last week’s San Diego Comic-Con, where fans questioned whether the Superman actor would appear in DC’s Shazam! and Black Adam panels. Fans showed their disagreement when the Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson suggested accidentally that someone else might take charge over the iconic role. Johnson has also reassured in an interview, “Henry is a buddy, and he is a phenomenal Superman, and Henry Cavill is the Superman of our generation, with respect to the other Supermans in the past.”

Additional reports suggest Cavill was never meant to attend, but neither DC nor Warner Bros has addressed the case. Whatever the situation, it seems he will be back in action on the sets once the production work resumes for The Witcher Season 3.

How eagerly have you been waiting for the Witcher season 3? Share your opinion!

The BA.5 COVID-19, which is believed to be the most rapidly spreading type ever, has previously infected notable figures including late-night host Seth Meyer and President Joe Biden. With the constant spread of the virus and its unpredictable nature, the release date for the third season of The Witcher has not been announced yet. Fans are eagerly waiting for the release date, and it is quite understandable as The Witcher has notably broken records in the past.

According to the World Health Organization, Covid-19 cases are once again rising, driven primarily by the highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants. Global efforts to combat the pandemic, ranging from mask mandates to vaccination campaigns, have largely waned.

BBC News report also addresses the positive cases in the United Kingdom. The place where The Witcher 3 production team was working has had COVID-positive cases since the beginning of June. During the week ending July 15, 542 persons in the country passed away from the contagious and deadly virus.

At the moment we don’t have any official release date for Witcher 3 but you can stream its first 2 seasons on Netflix before The Witcher 3 to understand the storyline.