Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital Culture, Media and Sport, recently made a statement at a press conference regarding plans to resume the filming of several upcoming blockbusters in the UK. Dowden confirmed that cast and crew members of certain big pictures will be exempt from COVID-19 quarantine rules currently in place.
The affected films include Mission: Impossible 7, Fantastic Beasts 3, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Batman, and Sony’s Cinderella. Actors and crew members will be allowed to enter the UK despite existing restrictions which prevent or limit travel from a number of countries, including the United States. They will not be required to quarantine for 14 days before beginning filming. However, the entire cast and crew will be restricted to what was described as a “bubble environment,” meaning that they will not be allowed to visit locations other than the film sets and their temporary lodgings.
Additionally, the films will be required to shoot entirely within the UK. This is unusual for such major blockbusters, especially Mission: Impossible, which typically features locations all around the world as backdrops to its action- and stunt-heavy scenes.
Reportedly, this statement was made after Dowden placed a personal call to Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise. The excited Secretary shared a screenshot from the video conversation via his official Twitter account.
FILM NEWS 🎥
New exemption from quarantine rules for filmmakers means we can start making the 🌍 best blockbusters again
Great to talk to @TomCruise last weekend about getting the cameras rolling again on Mission: Impossible 7 at #Leavesden https://t.co/We5JhITbYg pic.twitter.com/ebw33aeRXC
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) July 5, 2020
“The world’s biggest blockbusters and high-end TV shows are made in Britain,” Dowden said. “Exempting small numbers of essential cast and crew from quarantine is part of our continued commitment to getting cameras rolling safely again.”
The relaxing of rules will also apply to the players and coaches of certain sports teams, as the UK hopes to be able to once again host major sporting events in their country.
Filming for Mission: Impossible 7 is planned to restart soon. The film is currently scheduled for release on November 19, 2021.
