Jurassic World 3 pauses filming following confirmed coronavirus cases

The production of Jurassic World: Dominion has been paused for two weeks after people working on the film tested positive for coronavirus.

Director Colin Trevorrow confirmed the news on Twitter with a photo of a caged dinosaur wearing a face mask.

He tweeted: “Woke up to the news we had a few positive coronavirus tests on Jurassic World: Dominion.

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“All tested negative shortly after, but due to our safety protocols we’re going to pause for two weeks. Back soon.”

He did not confirm the identities of those who had tested positive for the virus.

A follow up post on the official Jurassic World Twitter account added: “Late last night, we were informed that the Jurassic World: Dominion production experienced a small amount of positive tests for COVID-19.

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“Even though subsequent tests proved negative this morning, due to our rigid protocols and to ensure that the safety & well-being of our entire cast & 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 & will resume in accordance with established safety guidelines.”

On Tuesday, the dinosaur action film – starring an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum – had its release date pushed back from next summer to June 2022.

The film became the latest in a string of blockbusters to be delayed.

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James Bond film No Time To Die and sci-fi epic Dune will also be released later than planned.

Currently shooting at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, Dominion is one of a handful of Hollywood blockbusters that have been able to resume production following the global coronavirus pandemic, including Avatar 2 in New Zealand, Uncharted in Germany, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi in Australia.

This is thanks to an industry-leading, 107-page safety manual the dictates the working environment ensuring the health and safety of the $200 million film’s 750 cast and crew members.

The Jurassic sequel began shooting earlier this year, but was shut down in March due to the global pandemic. It resumed filming in August, and already scaled back its location shoot in Malta due to a previous coronavirus outbreak on the island.

Jurassic World: Dominion is coming to cinemas 10 June, 2022.