There’s trouble in paradise, urm, I mean Picard, as the Star Trek TV series had to shut down production due to over 50 crew members testing positive for Covid-19.
The team only just resumed work after the winter break, but on the first day itself there were several reports of cases and infections. As per sources, this has impacted multiple production zones, including zone A which consists of the cast. It is unknown if any cast member in particular has tested positive.
Since the show has quite a large crew (an odd 450 members or so), production was immediately halted to assess the situation. CBS Studios have not commented or made any official statements yet.
Picard is shot in Los Angeles, which recorded over 26,000 new cases since January 5. The show will join other events in the entertainment industry that have been shut down or cancelled due to the third wave.
However, sources have also stated that production may pick up quickly, as early as next week.
In all likelihood, this production halt won’t affect season 2 significantly. After the 2020 delays, filming for the upcoming season had begun in February 2021. Then, when the show was early-renewed for season 3, production decided to film both seasons back-to-back.
By that estimate, it is season 3’s production that has been halted right now. So yes, season 2 will release as per schedule — you can heave a sigh of relief!
Two of the most exciting elements of Picard’s season 2 is that John de Lancie’s Q is back, along with the threat that time itself is broken. Enemies and missions aside, Captain Picard will also have to deal with having a new synthetic body, which has given him a second shot at life (and us, well, a second shot at seeing Picard’s adventures again!)
It has been almost a two-year wait for the upcoming season. Consisting of 10 episodes, Star Trek: Picard season 2 is expected to air in February 2022 on Paramount+.
About Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Picard is an American television series created by Akiva Goldsman. It is the eighth title in the Star Trek franchise.
The series follows a retired Jean-Luc Picard, who is disturbed by Data’s death in the film Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). At the end of the 24th Century, and 14 years after his retirement from Starfleet, Jean-Luc Picard is living a quiet life in his vineyard, Chateau Picard. When he is sought out by a mysterious young woman, Dahj, in need of his help, he soon realizes she may have personal connections to his past.
The show will return for its final season on February 23, 2023.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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