The Witcher’s second season ‘has been given the green light to resume filming’

Filming for The Witcher’s second season is allegedly set to resume after production stopped amid the coronavirus crisis. 

The Guardian reported on Sunday that a number of films and shows were given the green light to begin shooting again from July, after the government signed off on new safety rules as a result of the global pandemic.

According to the publication Netflix is keen for production to begin again for the hit fantasy series, while Warner Bros is looking to re-start filming The Batman and the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Guidelines were made by the  British Film Commission and the British Film Institute, and ensure physical distancing, safety training and temperature tests for the cast and crew will take place on set.

It was reported that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive have approved the guideline, and productions will be able to decide themselves if they want to resume filming.

Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, told the publication: ‘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.’   

Meanwhile, a source speaking to the publication added: ‘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.’ 

MailOnline have contacted Netflix for comment. 

Production on The Witcher had begun in the UK prior to the lockdown, with some scenes being filmed in Surrey in February.

The series is based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels, and focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a ‘solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts’. 

Created for TV by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner recently revealed she plans to create seven seasons of The Witcher. 

When asked about the future of the show, she told SFX Magazine: ‘Oh hell, yeah! Second season? I’ve done it for seven seasons!’

Netflix recently revealed the show was on track to be the platform’s biggest season one TV series ever’ with a massive 76 million viewers tuning in.    

In a letter to shareholders pertaining to the company’s Q4 2019 earnings, the streaming giant states that the show, which premiered on December 20th of last year, ‘is tracking to be our biggest season one TV series ever.’