The Batman has started filming in Liverpool after the cinema release date was delayed until 2022 due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic.
Warner Brothers vans were spotted in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon as workmen hauled props into St George’s Hall, which appears to be the set for one of the scenes in the upcoming blockbuster.
A vintage cream and red car with a wedding ribbon tied across the bonnet was parked outside the historical building, possibly teasing a romance for Batman – played by newcomer Robert Pattinson – in the film.
Batman begins filming! The Batman has started filming in Liverpool after the cinema release date was delayed until 2022 due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic
The building was cordoned off with railings to stop the public getting too close to filming, as workmen set up the location before the cameras rolled again.
None of the cast, including Robert, were seen on set but it is likely that they will be filming in the area in the coming days.
Dozens of vans could be seen parked outside the hall as member of the crew lifted plastic-covered items into the building – including what appeared to be a security body scanner.
On location: Warner Bros. vans were spotted in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon as workmen hauled props into St George’s Hall
Is love in the air? A vintage cream and red car with a wedding ribbon tied across the bonnet was parked outside the historical building, possibly teasing a romance for Batman – played by newcomer Robert Pattinson – in the film
Cast: Robert and the rest of the cast were absent from the filming location on Wednesday
The Batman is the latest blockbuster to be delayed because of coronavirus, raising fresh doubts over the future of hundreds of UK cinemas.
On Monday, Warner Brothers said it would push back the release of the superhero epic, starring Twilight actor Robert Pattinson, from October 2021 until spring 2022.
It also revealed that sci-fi film Dune, has been postponed from December to October next year. Cinemas now face an existential threat from a drought of big releases.
Exciting things to come! None of the cast, including Robert, were seen on set but it is likely that they will be filming in the area in the coming days
Disappointing: The Batman is the latest blockbuster to be delayed because of coronavirus, raising fresh doubts over the future of hundreds of UK cinemas
On Monday Cineworld shut all its 128 UK cinemas, putting 5,500 jobs at risk, until the spring after the release of the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, was postponed.
Odeon has said it will only open 30 of 120 sites at weekends. Social distancing coupled with people’s fears of catching the virus mean most viewers are staying at home.
Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan, took $300million (£228million) – much less than his previous film Dunkirk, which took £400million.
The subdued response spooked executives and sparked a rash of postponements.
On hold: On Monday, Warner Brothers said it would push back the release of the superhero epic, starring Twilight actor Robert Pattinson, from October 2021 until spring 2022
Stay back: The building was cordoned off with railings to stop the public getting too close to filming, as workmen set up the location before the cameras rolled again
Arrivals: Dozens of vans could be seen parked outside the hall as member of the crew lifted plastic-covered items into the building – including what appeared to be a security body scanner
The Batman was forced to delay filming last month when its lead star contracted coronavirus, parts of which were due to be shot in the Liverpool location.
An insider told MailOnline: ‘Today is the first day the main production unit has returned to filming and there seem to be no other hiccups at the moment.’
While a Warner Bros. Pictures spokesperson confirmed: ‘Following a hiatus for COVID 19 quarantine precautions, filming has now resumed on The Batman in the U.K.’
Concerns: It also revealed that sci-fi film Dune, has been postponed from December to October next year. Cinemas now face an existential threat from a drought of big releases
The source added that a significant part of the film was supposed to be shot in Liverpool but due to coronavirus the shoot had been cancelled and re-arranged several times, shifting the completion date for the project back even further.
Liverpool will play an important role in The Batman as American filmmaker Matt Reeves, who is directing the upcoming superhero film, revealed recently at DC FanDome, a virtual convention held by DC Comics and Warner Bros.
During an interview, he confirmed Liverpool would be the backbone for Gotham City as they shoot the remaining 75 per cent of the film.
Under fire: On Monday Cineworld shut all its 128 UK cinemas, putting 5,500 jobs at risk, until the spring after the release of the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, was postponed
In September, MailOnline revealed that production crew were ‘working round the clock’ to try and film scenes without Robert after he contracted Covid-19 and was forced to self-isolate for two weeks.
The Hollywood actor, who was understood to have turned up on set with a temperature, had to stay away from filming for 14 days while he recovered.
It came amid fears that halting production could cost as much as £5 million with the film’s director Reeves trying to film as much as he could at the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, without the leading man.
Any of the 130-strong crew who did not have direct contact with Pattinson were asked to return to work and sets that had been prepared were moved from studio G to another studio.
New restrictions: Odeon has said it will only open 30 of 120 sites at weekends. Social distancing coupled with people’s fears of catching the virus mean most viewers are staying at home
‘Anything that can be shot and does not involved Pattinson will now go ahead,’ a set insider told MailOnline at the time.
‘That includes scenes with his body double. The aim is to get as much done as possible before he returns and the hope is that none of the other actors get the virus.
‘Crew can be replaced as most are freelance and hired for the duration of the shoot but it would be disastrous if another major actor gets the virus.
‘Production staff are working round the clock to get things moving and allow some filming to take place.’
MailOnline revealed how The Batman was thrown into chaos after Pattinson tested positive for Covid 19.
He had arrived at the studio and told the on-set nurse he had an ‘elevated temperature.’
A subsequent electronic temperature test meant he was sent home and told to undergo a test for the virus.
Halt! The Batman was forced to delay filming last month when its lead star contracted coronavirus, parts of which were due to be shot in the Liverpool location