With the coronavirus crisis increasing daily, Warner Bros. TV has officially shut down production on all Arrowverse shows currently in production. The widely covered pandemic is making its way across the globe, which is beginning to affect events such as premieres, red carpets, and events. For the TV and film industry, the spread of coronavirus is forcing studios and networks to make tough calls to ensure their employees' safety and health. In the last few weeks alone, the global pandemic has already caused several productions to be put on hold.
Over at Marvel, concern about the coronavirus halted production on the upcoming Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings film, with director Destin Daniel Cretton currently undergoing testing. However, Simu Liu, who plays the titular hero, is being optimistic that production will resume shortly. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' DC film The Batman is continuing its principal photography despite the continuous concern of the virus's spread. However, their small-screen DC TV properties are being severely affected as Warner Bros.' TV division made a big decision.
According to Variety, WBTV will suspend filming of all their Arrowverse shows, which include The Flash, Supergirl, and Batwoman. The Melissa Benoist-led drama, Supergirl, which has a shorter episode order this season, is currently shooting the season 5 finale. In the case of The Flash and Batwoman, it's uncertain where in the season they're currently at in terms of filming. Given past seasons usually wrap production somewhere in late March/early April, it's likely they are also near the end of their respective seasons.
Legends of Tomorrow is almost half-way through airing their fifth season, with production concluding in late January according to co-showrunner Keto Shimizu, so for now that series remains unaffected by the coronavirus precautions. Due to the time-traveling drama having a shorter episode order, they're known for finishing filming early in the new year. The current in-production CW shows are only a handful of the series WBTV suspended production on; the decision is also starting to affect pilot season as several new series aren't able to roll the cameras just yet.
Despite being given an early straight-to-series order in January, it's unclear if the upcoming Arrowverse spin-off Superman & Lois will also shut down. Elizabeth Tulloch, who plays Lois Lane, recently teased the start of production, which is slated to begin on March 23, according to KryptonSite. Considering all the other Arrowverse shows are pulling the plug, it seems likely the Superman spin-off will follow suit.
Source: Variety, Keto Shimizu via Twitter, KryptonSite