Mythic Quest Crew and Creator Clash As COVID-19 Cases Rise
Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet, Apple TV+'s game development comedy series that charmed audiences with its COVID-19 episode earlier this year, may not have been quite as careful as its characters with regards to the virus. After a recent statement from creator Rob McElhenney touted the production's safe operating procedures, several anonymous crew members who tested positive for COVID-19 disagreed.
McElhenney addressed the rising number of cases in Los Angeles County in a message to the Mythic Quest staff according to Variety, saying "to date there remains ZERO evidence of any transmission at work. Our set continues to be one of the safest places you can be outside of your homes." A few unnamed crew members expressed their disagreement with this statement to Variety, countering that many of them had been made to work in close proximity with each other as production progressed.
Those who came forward alleged that while Mythic Quest started out adhering to safety guidelines, it quickly began to slip back into standard procedure, allowing for more unchecked spread of the virus. "Not a single person is surprised this spread like it did," said one crew member. "I don't know how you can look at what we were doing… and say 'This is OK.'"
One of the crew members who later tested positive claimed that when they arrived on set one day near the end of production, they were told to hold back for a bit due to a positive test among the staff. Apparently, after a quick sterilization of the area, work started up shortly after. While regulations did not require production to halt for a single confirmed case, they did require those in contact with the infected individual to go into quarantine. Since the crew member was told they weren't in contact, they were cleared to continue working. When speaking to Variety, the crew member questioned whether this contributed to the spread.
Mythic Quest had previously halted production in November due to rising cases in Studio City, California where it shares production space with a number of other projects. Even though the series resumed work shortly after, it seems little more has been done to stop the spread. Currently, at least 12 cases have been traced back to this particular production in December.
The outbreak around the Mythic Quest production space is still under investigation, but hopefully the showrunners begin enacting tighter procedures in order to keep their people safe. A vaccine is slowly on its way, but it will be a while before everyone can get it. Right now, safety should be of the utmost concern.
Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet Season 2 is currently in development for Apple TV+.
Source: Variety
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