Netflix has once again halted production on season two of their hit series Bridgerton due to another positive COVID-19 test. Now at over sixteen months into the pandemic, production companies are still feeling the effects of the virus. Production on Bridgerton season 2 resumed earlier this week after initially being halted due to positive COVID tests on set.
Bridgerton first premiered last year on Netflix during the Christmas holiday. Consisting of eight total episodes, the show quickly become the most watched series on the streaming service, eventually earning viewership from 82 million households. Season one followed Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her quest to find a husband, which she ultimately ends up finding in the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), but not before a lengthy amount of verbal sparring with her prospective beau. As season one comes to a close, the couple wed and give birth to a young son, which wraps up their love story and sets up the plot of the second season.
Now, Deadline reports that season 2 of Netflix’s Bridgerton has halted filming after another member tested positive for COVID-19. The streaming service has paused production for an indefinite amount of time as they, along with producers at Shondaland, enact a timeline for a safe return as the Delta variant surges across the UK. While Netflix has not commented on whether a cast or crew member was behind the positive COVID test, the indefinite hiatus leads to speculation that it’s most likely from an actor.
Last Friday over 50,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 in England, and 49 people died as a result of the virus. Despite that, the UK government is pushing hard to reopen the country on Monday, which will remove all legal restrictions on social contact. Netflix’s series, Bridgerton, is filmed in the UK, allowing the show to make use of the country’s grandest stately homes. Even though the streaming service is carrying out proactive testing on the show, this recent brush with the pandemic is a simple reminder that the coronavirus pandemic is still active, especially as a new variant spreads through the population.
Given Bridgerton‘s fondness for melodrama and intrigue, this constant back and forth of halting production will only add another layer of emotions for fans of the series. Similarly to Daphne’s and Simon’s back and forth romance, which eventually ends in a wedding, the show will eventually begin filming again, though when that will be is anyone’s guess. While Netflix continues to follow all health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19, shutting down production for the safety of their crew is the right course of action.
