The Flash, Riverdale, Supergirl and Batwoman's new seasons could be delayed over new quarantine rules

The coronavirus is already affecting the current seasons of The Flash, Riverdale, Supergirl and Batwoman – and now it's looking like next season might be impacted too.

All four CW shows were among a slew of US dramas across various channels to halt production in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping North America last month.

These delays impacted their ability to finish production on the final episodes of their current seasons in Vancouver, where new guidelines are now presenting a new problem.

British Columbia provincial chief health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry held a press conference on Wednesday (April 1) to explain that quarantine will likely not end at least until some point in the summer (via TVLine).

"It's more and more [unlikely] that we're going to be able to get back to full normal life… before at least the summer, and then we need to start preparing ourselves for the potential of a second wave in the fall," she explained.

Even putting this question of "a second wave" of infections aside, The Flash, Riverdale, Supergirl and Batwoman would all normally be preparing to shoot their autumn episodes by June or July.

This dire warning from Dr Henry indicates that all shows filming in Vancouver will most likely be pushed further behind schedule.

Also likely to be delayed will be shows shot in Toronto, where a three-month quarantine plan has just been instituted to help stem the spread of COVID-19 through Eastern Canada.

Though streaming shows like Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys and Titans don't have to adhere to strict premiere dates like CW shows, their production schedules will likely also be disrupted by Toronto's new quarantine guidelines.

There have been no firm announcements yet from any of these shows about their new season premieres being impacted by new Canadian coronavirus guidelines.

The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Justin Harp

Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.