The Batman crew were seen busily preparing a new sprawling set for the superhero flick in a studio lot on Tuesday, new aerial shots have revealed.
Transforming the outdoor space into a intricately detailed recreation of Gotham City, builders had already put up streets, burnt-out buildings, and even its very own Batcave for Robert Pattinson’s Caped Cursader to venture into.
Placed in a separate part of the film lot, the Batcave looked magnificent with its immense rock face which had been decorated with trees and shrubbery to exaggerate how vast the structure was.
Wow! The Batman crew build a sprawling set complete with burnt out buildings, an ice rink and its very own Batcave (pictured) to recreate Gotham City on a film lot in the UK, aerial shots revealed on Tuesday
A large pit had been built into the makeshift rock face with the floor painted a dark sleet grey to create a sense of foreboding when filming began on the completed set.
While the inside of the Batcave was not visible, a large hole had been built into the side of the set piece so that the crew could film Robert inside the lair from multiple angles.
Safety barriers had been put in and around the entrance of the cave as well as by the gap in the side so that the builders, as well as the cast and crew, wouldn’t hurt themselves.
Lead star: Robert Pattinson (pictured left filming in Liverpool in October) is taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in the new DC superhero flick, taking the mantle from Ben Affleck
Impressive: Placed in a separate part of the film lot, the Batcave looked magnificent with its immense rock face which had been decorated with trees and shrubbery to exaggerate how vast the structure was
Dramatic: A large pit had been built into the makeshift rock face with the floor painted a dark sleet grey to create a sense of foreboding when filming began on the completed set
Prepared: While the inside of the Batcave was not visible, a large hole had been built into the side of the set piece so that the crew could film Robert inside the lair from multiple angles
The Batcave wasn’t the only part of set the crew had created in painstaking detail, as whole streets were seen alongside building facades to represent the gritty streets of Gotham City.
A number of the buildings were painted to appear as if they were burnt-out, while others were made to look dilapidated and worn-down from years of disrepair.
One part of the set featured a large steel gate and doors as part of the Gotham Harbour Iceberg Fishing co., which may well be one of The Penguin’s operations.
Exciting: The Batcave wasn’t the only part of set the crew had created in painstaking detail, as whole streets were seen alongside building facades to represent the gritty streets of Gotham City
Could it be? One part of the set featured a large steel gate and doors as part of the Gotham Harbour Iceberg Fishing co, which may well be one of The Penguin’s operations
Dark: Abandoned cars and piles of rubbish were strewn across the streets to show Gotham City’s grim nature
In the process: Cranes were seen in operation around an ice rink which was still being built but was covered in snow in parts
Earlier this month, it was reported filming had been hit with yet another setback, after a stuntman tested positive for COVID-19.
Sources claimed the stuntman, who is part of a bubble with nine other crew members, may not return to set until Christmas after they all quarantine for 14 days.
The Batman has already faced heavy delays after production in March was suspended for six months in the wake of the global pandemic.
Sources told The Sun that the main cast, including star Robert and the film’s crew, are unaffected by the positive test.
Winter wonderland: Several parts of the set had been decorated with fake snow for the forthcoming shoot
Devil’s in the detail: Part of the set was decorated with cast-iron statues for an ominous meeting place
Hostile environment: A long line of tents were seen lining the street on part of the set, which appeared to be an area where the homeless of Gotham City were set to stay in
However it’s thought that some stunt scenes, that were due to be filmed Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, will be postponed until those affected have finished their isolation as one source said: ‘It’s pretty disastrous.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Warner Bros. for comment.
The Batman has already been heavily delayed by issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming suspended in March when the outbreak began to spread.
Production then resumed in September, but had be delayed yet again when star Robert reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
Realistic: The set designers for The Batman had clearly done an incredible job with recreating Gotham City at the film lot
Hard at work: Members of the crew were seen at the film lot going over the work that needed to be done
True to life: The top of the Batcave set was covered in fake ferns and foliage for a realistic look
Ready to go: An array of vintage cars were seen at a yard placed on set that was marked ‘Gotham Recycling’
An insider told MailOnline at the time: ‘Today is the first day the main production unit has returned to filming and there seem to be no other hiccups at the moment.’
Meanwhile, a Warner Bros. Pictures spokesperson confirmed: ‘Following a hiatus for COVID 19 quarantine precautions, filming has now resumed on The Batman in the UK.’
In September, MailOnline revealed that production crew were ‘working round the clock’ to try and film scenes without Robert after he contracted COVID-19 and was forced to self-isolate for two weeks.
Drama: Earlier this month, it was reported filming on The Batman had been hit with yet another setback, after a stuntman tested positive for COVID-19 (Robert pictured on set in October)
Disastrous: The Batman has already been heavily delayed by issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming suspended in March when the outbreak began (pictured: Stunt doubles dressed as Batman and Catwoman on set in October)
The Hollywood actor, who was understood to have turned up on set with a temperature, had to stay away from filming for 14 days while he recovered.
Filming eventually resumed and relocated to Liverpool, which itself sparked backlash from locals as the city had been placed into the highest tier of lockdown last month.
Due to the delays, the film’s release date has been pushed back to March 2022.
Colin Farrell is set to take on the villainous role of The Penguin, while Zoe Kravitz stars as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, alongside Geoffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon and Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/The Riddler.
Issues: Production then resumed in September, but had be delayed yet again when star Robert (pictured in October) reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, the crew filmed scenes without the star during his 14 day self-isolation period
Back to work: Filming eventually resumed and relocated to Liverpool, which itself sparked backlash from locals as the city had been placed into the highest tier of lockdown last month
