The British government has given the green light to allow the staging of selected sports events and resume film and TV production. “Today’s immensely welcome news is a clear recognition of the importance of the film and high-end TV inward investment sector to the UK’s economy,” Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO of the British Film Commission said. “The sector was worth over £3 billion in 2019, and has a clear role to play in our economic recovery following the lockdown.”
The decision was made following the government's pledge of £1.57 billion to the arts sector which has been neglected as a result of the pandemic. The news declaration will exempt sports performers, casts, and crews of international film and high-end TV productions from lockdown restrictions.
The only condition for the resumption is to remain in controlled, "bubbled" and private environments. The rules are similar to the ones implemented for the English Premier League, which intimately resumed in mid-June, only with the addition of the allowance of international travel. The move will also allow the British Grand Prix in Silverstone and the resumption of the UEFA Champions League, both in August.
“Mission: Impossible 7” and “The Batman” is among several Hollywood projects to resume filming in the United Kingdom following the rules were loosened, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Sunday. “Mission Impossible” is currently being shot at the Warner Bros. studio in Hertfordshire. During the weekend press conference, Dowden said he spoke with Tom Cruise about the exemption. Shooting in England for the latest in the franchise was suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic forced production to shut down.
Other major blockbusters set to start or resume filming in the country include Universal’s “Jurassic World: Dominion,” Warner Bros.’ “Fantastic Beasts 3,” Sony’s live-action musical adaptation of “Cinderella” and Disney’s remake of “The Little Mermaid.”
Members of the British government are also enforcing the requirement of staying at the production location and finding a place of accommodation for 14 days. “We want the industry to bounce back and exempting small numbers of essential cast and crew from quarantine is part of our continued commitment to getting cameras rolling safely again,” Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said.