‘Riverdale,’ ‘Batwoman’ resume production after Covid-19 testing backlog

Washington: With shooting for television series resuming in British Columbia after COVID-19 induced hiatus, productions for CW’s ‘Riverdale’ and ‘Batwoman’ series have also resumed in Vancouver.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. TV is also back to shooting the dramedy ‘Maid’ for Netflix in Victoria, B.C.

WBTV’s ‘The Flash,’ ‘Supergirl’ and ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’ were supposed to begin filming last week in Vancouver, but are still on pause for now. The company’s ‘Superman and Lois’ and ‘Kung Fu’ aim to begin filming next week, and are still on track to do so – but because of the questions about how much volume the testing system can take, they might not.

Tests are performed three times a week, and sources told Variety that the production shutdowns could happen again if the testing glut causes a show to not get results for the cast and crew back in time. The studios have lost millions of dollars by keeping these shows idle — losses that insurance does not cover.

In British Columbia, coronavirus has been contained ably, which is why the province opened up for shooting in June. With that success in mind, one Vancouver producer expressed frustration to Variety about U.S.-based studios ignoring what has worked well in the province: “The government here said don’t do asymptomatic testing. They came and did it anyway. It predictably didn’t work, because our government, who has been successful in fighting the virus, is prioritizing the testing they deem medically necessary.”

The studios, meanwhile, have been trying to work with the lab — and are possibly seeking back-up labs — to avoid future backlogs.