Warner Bros has shut down the production on the third installment of Fantastic Beasts franchise after a team member tested positive for novel coronavirus.
The studio said they will restart the shooting schedule in accordance with safety guidelines.
A team member from Fantastic Beasts 3 has tested positive for COVID-19. The diagnosis was confirmed as a result of required and ongoing testing that all production employees receive, and the team member is currently in isolation.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Fantastic Beasts 3 paused production and will be back up in accordance with safety guidelines," Warner Bros said in a statement issued to Variety.
Based on characters created by J K Rowling, the Harry Potter spin-off was in production at the Warner Bros studio in Leavesden, UK.
Shooting had been due to start in early 2020 but was pushed back due the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually commencing in September.
David Yates, who directed the first two installments of the franchise and several Harry Potter films, is at the helm of the as-yet-untitled movie.
The film features actors Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.
Fantastic Beasts 3 is scheduled to be released on July 15, 2022.
